Victoria Pelova put in a player of the match display as Arsenal overturned a 2-0 half-time deficit to beat Leicester City 6-2 at the King Power Stadium on Sunday night. Pelova spoke to written media post-game and the first three questions are from Arseblog News.
On finding better spaces in the second half…
We spoke about beating our own opponent because they are playing us one to one, so that is what we spoke about. Second half was so much better, the runs were better, the turning was better, we kept the ball more. We had more precision.
On feeling more and more at home in the team…
Yeah, my teammates are amazing, they give me the feeling that I am home. The more I am playing, the more comfortable I am feeling and players are getting to know me and I am getting to know them, like, where I want the ball. The connection is growing the team, I love them all outside but now on the pitch, you can see it too.
On the missed chance in the first half…
I felt so guilty, that is why I had to play better in the second half! They are really busy with the pressing and they are really onto you. Normally I played as a 10 at Ajax so this is a slightly different role and the pressing is different. The coaches are really working with me on that.
On playing more centrally where Pelova has said she feels most comfortable…
I always tell every coach I am not a right forward or left forward, or a wing-back. But wherever I play centrally, I don’t care if I play 6, 8 or 10 as long as it’s central. Maybe (it is contributing to her form).
On playing with Kyra Cooney-Cross…
She really plays fearlessly as well, how she did today in her first WSL start and she was so great, she showed everything she can do. You see her talent and it is lovely to play next to her.
On the importance of the travelling fans…
You hear it every time, it is in your head, my favourite song is the Cloe Lacasse one, it is so good. The fans are so amazing, I am telling everyone in my nation when I go back with the national team, ‘our fans are the best.’ And people are asking me, ‘do they come to every single game?” And I am like, ‘yeah!’ I heard them more than the home fans and it is amazing and the songs are so good.
On the team being able to pull of so many comebacks…
The fans are a big part of it, they travel with us and we don’t want to disappoint them. You get that feeling when you are 2-0 down. Also, we know we have done it very often, like against Wolfsburg and Bayern so we know in our head that we can do it but I would not have said that we would score six goals, but we did!
Our forwards’ runs and finishing got us out of jail today but when will Jonas sort the defence out? Sometimes you would think we had academy players at centre back but worryingly they are not! You cannot keep giving teams a head start before mounting a comeback even if today was monumental!
This comment should have been under the “Jonas Reacts” thread. I am not sure how it ended up in this one. Vicky had a great 2nd half though!
All these come backs. it’s been wonderful and all but we need to cut out and take xontrol of games from the start.
♥
It’s so good to hear she’s settled. She’s someone who held off on going abroad because she wanted to finish uni, but also was just too young. Moving away from home is a big deal and I’m so happy she found a place that treats her as a daughter, sister, family member and makes sure she’s at ease.
I’m a proud gunner, and a proud Dutchy 😉
You get the sense that it took her a little while to settle when she first arrived but that living with Beth & Viv for a bit & being able to converse in Dutch with them also helped her settle. Said on the other post that that performance could be her breakout moment because she’s been threatening to run amok like that since we signed her
Thats a lot of talent in one flat.. Jonas should start his teamsheets on their council tax bill
She’s just fab. So glad she’s with AFC. You rock, VP.
And we love you too, Victoria.❤️❤️❤️🔥🔥💪💪👋👊🤩.