Frida Maanum’s 65th minute curler from the edge of the box gave Arsenal a hard-earned three points at home to Leicester City at Meadow Park on Frida(y) night. Frida spoke to Arseblog News after the game.
I put it to Frida that, if I were to shut my eyes and imagine a Frida Maanum goal, it would look a lot like the one she curled into the top corner in the 65th minute to give Arsenal the win against a revitalised Leicester.
“I work on long range shots,” she tells me. “I find those situations in nearly every game and I try to practice those shots as much as I can, that’s why I score those goals.”
WHO ELSE BUT FRIDA! 🔥
Striking the ball into the top bins – @FMaanum 🥵#BarclaysWSL @ArsenalWFC pic.twitter.com/fd5bn56Hy0
— Barclays Women's Super League (@BarclaysWSL) May 5, 2023
After a physically and emotionally draining 210 minutes against Wolfsburg, this was another nervy encounter in the final stages, with Arsenal unable to build on their single goal advantage. Maanum admits that the team know this stage of the season is about substance over style.
“Obviously, it is a fight now. We know that. We know the injuries we have and the squad we have. The girls are amazing and every day in training we all just work as hard as we can and try to maximise everything we have right now. I think you saw that again today.”
On a personal note, Maanum struggled for minutes during the closing stages of last season with an established midfield trio of Walti, Little and Miedema starting each of the final ten games of the season. This season, the door has been open for Maanum and she has taken her opportunity.
“I didn’t play much for about five months of last season. Now I am playing every minute and I am really enjoying that, I am enjoying every minute, that is what I want.”
Katie McCabe missed an early penalty in this game and the scores were still locked at 0-0 at half-time despite a dominant display from Arsenal. Frida says that the manager’s message at half-time was simple.
“His message was to keep going, we made a few changes in our game but we had the chances and we knew we could get the goal if we just kept going in the second half. We made small adjustments in our offence to get better angles, especially in our build-up from the back to play away from their pressure.”
OFF THE BAR! 🥵@FMaanum almost adding another worldie to her tally! #BarclaysWSL @ArsenalWFC pic.twitter.com/uC0T13kwGH
— Barclays Women's Super League (@BarclaysWSL) May 5, 2023
The Gunners face another revitalised relegation battler on Wednesday evening with a trip to Crawley to face Brighton, who have rediscovered their form under new coach Mel Phillips, much in the way that Leicester have found theirs under Willie Kirk.
“It will be a hard game, they have been doing well recently. We just have to take one game at a time and go there for the three points. We want to work hard for the injured players too.
“We are one team. It is sad when players get injured and, in this case, it’s so many players. We just work so hard for each other in training and on the pitch.”
Another Maanum golaco on Wednesday will do just nicely, thank you.
A constant threat on the edge of the box! 🥵
Can you spot the @FMaanum worldie on the touch map 👀#BarclaysWSL @ArsenalWFC pic.twitter.com/7FC6eN8EqT
— Barclays Women's Super League (@BarclaysWSL) May 5, 2023
Keep on fighting
What a player Frida is
Got to agree she’s brilliant
She’s outstanding! I really hope she stays with us long-term.
Frida Maanum. Wonder Woman.
I have a go at her when she misses those long-range shots, but my goodness I am so glad she is taking them for us and not for a rival team.
Actually, Willie Kirk wanted her when he was at Everton.