Beth Mead is ready to compete for a place at Arsenal and is hopeful of being included in the England squad following her successful comeback after nearly a year out injured.
Mead had missed 11 months of football after rupturing her ACL in November 2022 but made a triumphant return in a dramatic home win over Aston Villa. Jonas Eidevall introduced the forward to the game with Arsenal trailing 1-0 and with just four minutes of normal time to play.
After a huge reception for the England star instantly lifted the mood around the Emirates, Mead helped her side pull off a remarkable fightback, started by Katie McCabe's equaliser. Then in the 94th minute, Mead's composure on the edge of the box saw her pick out England teammate Alessia Russo to score the winner, sparking pandemonium in the stands.
Following the win, Arsenal's first of the new season, Mead stated she is ready to fight for her place in the side. The Gunners have a talented forward line with new signing Cloe Lacasse, McCabe, Caitlin Foord, as well as Mead, all competing for the wide positions.
"I am excited to try and break back into the team," Mead said. "And compete for a position again. Hopefully we can do something special throughout the season.
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"Me and Less (Russo) have had the chance to play together a little bit. I think it was nice that we got that chance to link up today and it got the winner.
"It’s been a long, long time coming (her return) There have been a lot of hard days, a lot of good days. I think, ultimately, you want to do your job, you want to do something you love - and that had been taken away for such a long time. So to be able to get out there, with that type of reception from the fans, was pretty incredible."
Manager Eidevall said after the win that despite Mead's return to action, she won't immediately be ready to play a full 90 minutes. But her impressive cameo has raised the possibility of her making a return to the England squad.
Prior to her ACL injury Mead was a key performer for Sarina Wiegman's team, winning Player of the Tournament and the Golden Boot as the Lionesses won Euro 2022. Wiegman was at the Emirates on Sunday to see Mead's return first hand and names her squad this week for a double header against Belgium at the end of the month.
And the forward is ready for the national call, if required.
Mead last played for England nearly a year ago"I am a hopeful person," added Mead. "Hopefully I get a chance to speak to Sarina at some point in the next few days and we will go from there.
"Unfortunately I am not a mind reader, I don’t know where her brain is at the moment! But I am ready to compete. Whether Sarina thinks so or not is a different story. But in my own head, I am ready to compete."
Arsenal had endured a tough start to the season prior to their late turnaround against Villa. The Gunners exited the Champions League at the qualifying stage, then lost at home to Liverpool on the opening day.
Alessia Russo of Arsenal celebrates after her winner against Aston VillaBut Mead is confident their strength in depth will help turn their season around.
"I think the competition has been really good," she added. "In training the intensity is incredible. We are being competitive, working each other really, really hard.
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"To get on that pitch you need to be playing well, and ultimately that’ll help the team. You could see the talent that came on the pitch for us today. You have game-changers and players (from the bench) changed the game today."
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