“During my tenure, she epitomized how Arsenal wanted to play,” says former Arsenal head coach Joe Montemurro. Athletic.
Vivianne Miedema, the Women's Super League (WSL)'s all-time leading scorer after seven years at the club, will leave the north London club at the end of this season after being informed of the club's decision not to renew her contract. become. 172 appearances, 125 goals, 50 assists, two Golden Boots, one league title and three Continental Cup titles speak for themselves, but they don't tell the whole story.
You can rattle off statistic after statistic, but Miedema is not one to personally admire. And Montemurro, who coached her from 2017 to 2021, focuses on Miedema when talking about their time together.
“I really loved working with her because we were challenging each other,” Montemurro says. “I would say, 'No, that's not true.' She would say, 'Yes, that's right.'
“Tactically, we had a lot of passionate discussions about how we could improve with the way we wanted to approach it. I really loved those discussions. She was a really smart thinker in terms of how she looked at the game. I have.”
Miedema started as a No. 9 under Montemurro before drifting into the area traditionally occupied by the No. 10, but the head coach always played with a fluid attack.
“I knew she needed to be free,” he says. “She needed to be in the right space where she could have a big impact and be creative. She just sees things earlier. If you give her that room, she can be very effective. She has the ability to play in all areas, whether it's going back to goal, coming in from the outside or starting down. If so, let her make the decision in that moment.”
The former Bayern Munich striker demanded high standards from himself and others. “It was one of the things that was synonymous with Arsenal,” Montemurro says. “She was a hugely important part of the high-level standards we wanted to achieve and the way we wanted to play and represent the club.” Intensity In a challenging environment, Montemurro said: She was a great listener and a great person who wanted to take her game to the next level. She was a huge influence. I have definitely grown as a coach. ”
Miedema's contract was scheduled to expire two years ago. By then, Montemurro had left, and she had played one season under his replacement, Jonas Idevall. It has been widely reported that the Dutch international could leave the club, and she was in talks with two of Europe's biggest clubs, Barcelona and Lyon, as well as teams in the WSL and National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). However, the then 25-year-old turned down those offers and agreed to sign a two-year contract extension with Arsenal until the summer of 2024.
At the time, Aidewall described Miedema as an “incredible talent” and “a very important player”, while head of women's football Claire Wheatley described Miedema as one of the “best players on the planet”. and said her update was a “momentous day”. For the club.
However, in December 2022, Miedema tore her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), meaning she will miss the remainder of the 2022-23 season and the Women's World Cup. Her recovery has been a difficult process, and her recurrent pain has prevented her return. Get consistent game time.
Two years have passed since then, and times have changed. Arsenal are well aware of Miedema's qualities, but it was the club who chose not to offer her a new contract. While there is great respect for her work over the past seven years, football leaders felt this was the natural end to the cycle. While money was not the most important factor, the club had to consider the team's budget, existing strikers such as Stina Blackstenius and Alessia Russo, and a greater focus on attracting young talent. Ta. From Miedema's point of view, as a player who has had a strong connection with her fans, it will be painful to leave the club where she has built so many memories.
Asked if he was surprised that Arsenal didn't extend his contract, Montemurro said: She is a unique player, not only at Arsenal but on the world stage. Very interesting discussion as to why they won't renew the contract. Sometimes a club goes in a different direction, sometimes a player needs a change. It would be very difficult not to put Viv and Arsenal in the same sentence. ”
Vivian Miedema and Beth Meade suffered anterior cruciate ligament injuries within weeks of each other (Naomi Baker – The FA/The FA via Getty Images)
So what's next? Miedema will play her final WSL game in an Arsenal shirt on Saturday against Brighton & Hove Albion at Meadow Park, where a ceremony will be held in her honor. Manchester City are the frontrunners to sign the striker, but no deal has been signed yet. The future of her teammate and partner Beth Meade is not expected to be affected by Miedema's departure.
“Now it's time to move on,” Miedema wrote. “My time at Arsenal will stay with me forever and I am grateful for all the special memories.”
(Top photo: Alex Burstow/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
