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AWFC > AFC x infinity
I am not in the business of comparing men to women, specially in an arena where there is no comparison. Arsenal Women have accomplished more than Arsenal men, in a considerably shorter amount of time, including TWO Champions Leagues, so to compare them would be insulting to our women’s historic side and to Vic Akers too, who was also an integral part of the men’s history too, but that’s a whole different story.
There was a post I did a few days ago called “Matriarchal” I which I spoke how about how I didn’t think that Arteta had the humility to go over to Renee’s office and ask her what it takes to win a CL and to be a winner. How to motivate players beyond their wildest dreams to the point where they beat the 2 best teams maybe ever assembled, back to back and win a European Trophy.
However I think I feel like I placed a lot of blame on the manager and not enough on the male players. You cannot convince me that these guys go to Katie, Stina, Steph or Alessia and ask them what it takes to win a CL or the euros for that matter. A club that takes pride in being “a family” and they sell you merch line after merch line, yet there is a clear divide in the lack of mutual support, a visible one, and it’s alarming, only because I think it could be extremely empowering for everyone, including the fans.
When was the last time you saw a single men’s squad member attend a women’s game? Wrighty definitely doesn’t count and honestly I don’t remember the cameras showing him at a game for who knows how long. This is not a dig whatsoever, just an observation. And honestly, we saw the women’s team show up to many, many matches and it never seems reciprocated so if I were them, I wouldn’t go see the men, I wouldn’t post about it, I would frankly not care and if they bottle the league I would be ashamed.
But let’s forget about the men’s squad which have thrown away the premier league, and let’s chat briefly about the usual tension that is the end of the season/transfer situation…
What I will say is what I always say during this time… you are not alone! haha. This is all super traumatic for a lot of us and I still haven’t gotten over DVD, Viv, Jill and Dom leaving us, and I’m sure my heart is still not ready for the imminent departures, regardless of who comes in. Don’t get me started on Lia Walti…
We could have Bonmati, Putellas and Pajor but I’ll take Catley, McCabe and Beth. Yes, I would. Why? Because the latter three, among a few others, are part of the DNA that makes Arsenal, THE ARSENAL, something to be proud of. They are the NOW, not “the past” and they did the goddamned thing and whatever success and trophies comes next will be thanks to them, just like with Alex Scott and Emma Byrne and co.
Can’t you see? These players are what those players were. Imagine reading on a social media app that Rachel Yankey wasn’t good enough. Absolutely insane.
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Stina, Gratitude & Ona
Much love to all the new readers! Yesterday’s post got a lot of traction and I want to give you the warmest of welcomes. I so very much appreciate your energy and your time to read not just that post but all the other ones that you have. Also, in case you haven’t and you’re wondering who the hell I am and why I write about AWFC let me give you a quick intro, and feel free to skip this next paragraph.
I’m a musician living in Los Angeles. I play drums and percussion for a living and have been lucky enough to work with some of the biggest names in pop. However, nothing I have done comes close to the joy I feel when I watch/talk about/write about/ AWFC and specially a few players that have a special place in my heart, both former ones and current ones. I am NOT an analyst, and I’m not a football expert but I have been watching this sport since I was born in Venezuela and have been obsessed with Arsenal and The Netherlands since I could walk. I don’t claim to know about tactics the same way that so many others do and I purposely stayed away from YouTube (I tried but fell out of love with it) because I just don’t vibe with so many of the shows from fans and people that are hungry for access, don’t get me started. All this to say my views are mine, they’re weird, they’re based on my biased opinions and always through a music/social prism that allow me to talk about whatever I want and I have ZERO fear about what the club thinks about me or what I can “get out of it.” So, if you’re looking for random shit and things that are MY truth and you agree or not, you’re very welcome.
I woke up to the news that Stina had renewed and I’m chuffed for her. She’s a special player and from everything I have heard she’s an outstanding professional. Furthermore I think she shows very little ego… she signs a contract at a club that basically tells her: “you’ll always be behind Russo in the pecking order, you cool w that?” This shows love for the club, awareness and also confidence because I truly doubt that she’s “ok” with being #2. She knows more than anyone what she can do.
Also there’s something to be said about this idea of having Russo “at 10” and don’t get me started on that. But either way, this is good news and we need that. Would I like more center forwards? yes only because I thought she was leaving but I’m happy she’s staying and she always delivers when it matters the most. Forever grateful to her and I know you are as well!
Now, apparently it’s a done deal and we’re getting Ona Batlle this summer. Of course I want Ona to be at Arsenal and I have “asked” for her signing for about 3 years. I think she’s the top a top 3 right back in the world. What I cannot understand for the life of me is the idea of signing ANOTHER right back when what we need is cover for Katie McCabe. Let’s say KT does leave… ok we now have 3 right backs and one will play at LB at some point… how the hell does a club as big as ours have to do this? It makes no sense to me.
The time for farewells is getting close and as I wrote a few days about we only have about 8-11 matches left to see some of these players wear an Arsenal shirt so if you’re one of the lucky ones that gets to attend in person please enjoy every moment and realize how fortunate you are to see those historic women wear our shirt for possibly the last time ever.
In the following days I will chat about transfers a bit more but if Katie leaves, ugh, we need Selma Bacha.
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Worst Take Ever
Morning…
In all my years of watching football… I all my years as a musician… in all my years as someone interested in pop culture… etc etc etc I cannot think of a worst take, of any topic, in any era, of any sport and metaphorical arena than when people say that Beth Mead isn’t good enough for Arsenal. For someone like me who defends opinions and how an opinion is never wrong or right, I’m here to tell you that I make an exception and if you think Beth isn’t good enough for us or for any team, you’re absolutely wrong and you have no idea what you’re talking about. Happy Monday!!!
I have a theory as to why there has been a massive rise in criticism against her and many players that for many of us seems insane, unwarranted and disrespectful, and I will emphasize the last word in a bit. It boils down to the players doing that do themselves, not on purpose. How? Why? Because of how good they are, ironically.
Before the 2022 Eurocup life was different and players were considerably more approachable because very few people, all things considered, went to matches. They could take pictures, chat, have tea with fans, etc. It was a whole different thing… but you need outgoing, outreaching players to represent the club, to gain organic traction and that could be reduced to, and this is overly simplified, but to sense of humor and kindness. These are descriptors for her, if you’ve ever been lucky enough to speak with her.
You don’t need me to be condescending (even though I got pretty heated in that first paragraph) and point out that things have changed drastically since the Euros. You know well that things have changed. Not overnight as people often say. The way football exploded has been a product of historic, brave, fearless women over 100 years and the Euros was just another monumental moment in the young history of the sport. But if we zoom in on that tournament and we put aside emotion and the reality that it is a team sport, one player basically did the damn thing and that player is Beth Mead. No need to bring up other names from other teams, but the reality is that Meado fucking killed it, in every way, by every stat and measure and by all the intangibles… the work rate, the goals, the celebrations, her personality, she has always been the cultural glue of a team full stars and her kindness, selflessness and undeniable ability set her apart from anyone in the whole damn tournament.
So, she kills it, they kill it… They become household names, a project that actually intentionally started 5 years prior in a very thought out, strategic way, but thankfully the lionesses did the business and made it a reality along with the support they got from the FA, former players like Kaz Carney, etc… anyway, they become role models for a whole knew generation. Those fans were fed the best football they could watch, with emotions of an entire nation and beyond at an insane high and when those expectations aren’t met, my guess is a lot of them become frustrated.
The people watching are not the same ones that are on twitter all the time, or it is all the way around? Point being that there’s no way in hell that for those accounts that are so vocal about Beth not being good, are essentially old enough to have watched football for long enough to have an opinion based on anything other than whatever the hell they think they know…. simply put: they don’t know ball. Beth IS football and if they can’t see that, we cannot change their mind
Our algorithm is being flooded by people that flood the algorithm, not by truth. Youth is a wonderful thing and it brings with it immaturity, a sense of knowing it all and hubris where people argue with people that know considerably more than them… The issue is not about football but about the inability to admit they are wrong. And by the way, this also can be seen with AWFC’s favorite “journalists” who tell you they are the authority and said people refuse to stand up and be counted when it matters. And btw some of these people argue with Beth’s dad, hahahahahah are you fucking kidding me??? Do you know how stupid that is? Talk about no respect.
And that’s I think a point I wanna make… having an opinion about any player is totally fine. Trust me, I have very strong opinions on LWM, Foord and Pelova and as much as I have voiced them, I have never been abusive. Some people might think I’ve been disrespectful and that has never been my intention but abusive? Never.
When we insult and abuse players we are disrespecting ourselves. We are showing an ugly side of us and the best way to counteract that is gratitude. Few players are owed as much gratitude by world football than Beth and there’s not enough to go around, frankly. What she has done is not going to be understood by a 13 year old girl in the favelas in Caracas, a boy in Whitby kicking a ball in the pier, or a football academy in the most affluent of places in Zurich, but her impact will be and is being felt. They will get it later on, when they grow and mature and develop a sense of gratitude and more empathy.
And that’s the crux of it all, isn’t it? Empathy. She has given everything to our club, everything. When she starts, off the bench… are these people forgetting that without her we wouldn’t have won the Champions League?
Her accolades are unfuckablewith. She’s the truth. If the noise, the very loud noise, cannot be quieted by her past or her future then that’s not on her. She has nothing to prove, this is all on those people that cannot see, cannot hear and cannot feel football truth or the truth in football.
I know where I stand and I will always have her back.
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Pelova
I woke up today to the news that Victoria Pelova is essentially on her way out of Arsenal. I know a lot of fans love her and this might come as really bad news for them and for her as well and as someone who has been vocal about not being a fan, I’m actually here today to stand up for her… you’re shocked aren’t you?
As I’ve said before, I’ve never been a fan and I truly don’t see what others see in her. I think the pressure on her and the expectations put on her by god knows who, has been absolutely unfair, specially when she is her own player and hasn’t found her best position yet. Imagine being told you’re the next Van de Donk? Are you fucking kidding me? There’s nobody close to DvD. Imagine then being told maybe you’re the next Kim Little. What? The next Lia Walti? You are having an absolute laugh. I never saw her as that, not because she couldn’t be the next “them” but purely because nobody could be any of those other players.
We’re talking about truly historic players who shaped modern day football and very few players fit that mold. It’s not her fault. She is also not responsible for being in the same national team as DvD, Viv, Jill, Jackie, Damaris, Sherida in the positions she was touted to play. All of them are considerably farther into their journey and have been given a path, through merit, to excel at club level and for their country as well. Vic truly hasn’t and I feel for her.
A lot of the discourse and love came from fans who basically just loved her and her vibes and her partnership with KCC was gonna be “the next Kim and Lia” and I remember fans saying they were better already. I get people wanting to have favorites and find them cool off the pitch and all the social media, how she is loved by players and all of that.
I think we’re talking about a very misunderstood player, and nobody understands her less than me. And I don’t mean that in a wrong way, I mean that I don’t think we have been rewarded, and neither has she, with a long enough run of matches to truly know what her best position is as she’s very versatile and apparently she’s a very, very intelligent woman.
Even though she is not a star, I think she is a player you can build your team around. Let her be free and have players around her to help her shine. She’s not one to take over a match singlehandedly and absolutely boss it. She has the potential but if the coaches she has had haven’t gotten the best out of her, it might not be her that it’s the issue. It might be the system and the squads she plays.
Obviously her ACL injury was tragic and there was a bit of dip of form as expected but I think she has handled it quite well and she just isn’t fitting in Renee’s team. Some people wish she did but she just might not.
I would love to know what position she likes the most and how she would like to play football. I want her to shine and thrive and be the happiest person she can and if it’s not at AWFC then so be it but she needs to do what’s best for HER.
My respect for her has always been there and now even more so when she spoke about how she felt and how this is challenging for her mentally. This is not easy to own up to and to be so vulnerable and open is something I admire and I truly wish her success. There’s a universe where she shines.
In her defense I also think that Kim and Mariona have been playing way too many matches and she has deserved to be included more often than she has. If not for a tactical reason, at least to give other players a break and then she could have a chance to prove herself. But these things are always tricky because she can’t control the future and cannot just make the choice to just be great whenever she wishes.
She’s actually playing pretty well for the dutch vs France right now and she did well also last match. And btw I will be posting about the oranjeleeuwinnen on my next post. Really excited by what I’m seeing.
Victoria deserves to be happy and feel fulfilled in every way possible. Maybe staying in London is the move but either way one of my biggest wishes for her is whatever happens she makes as much money as possible. Plus she also mentioned she misses her family and that resonates with me, I just don’t think going back to The Netherlands is the right move for her.
Wherever she goes she will be loved by fans and her teammates and I love that for her.
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Abhorrent
My friends, as you all know this blog is centered around WOSO. As a musician, a Venezuelan-American with a dutch obsessed heart and just a human overall I am also compelled from time to time to talk about many different adjacent topics, and let’s face it some posts are incredibly random and based only on my opinions and not facts. I enjoy chatting about the parallels between football and music, about empathy, about former players I will love forever, and sometimes I talk about politics, injustice and social causes.
Today I am only briefly going to talk about a story that shook me to my core and I am bringing it up because I feel duty bound, as someone who loves women’s football and the woso community, and this has without a doubt affected one of you directly or indirectly. It’s disgusting, it’s abhorrent, it’s unforgivable and I’m sorry that this is a thing.
TRIGGER WARNING ‼️ ⚠️ ⛔️
CNN published an article (here) about how an investigation essentially uncovered a r*ape academy… a site that was visited 62 MILLION times from men all over the world who learned how to drug, abuse and hurt their wives, filmed it and shared it… they all exchanged info as to how to not get caught, they took directions from the highest bidder and every disgusting thing you can imagine as their partners were drugged and unconscious and of course never consented to any of it.
To put it in perspective, in the same month 50 million people visited Google. That’s 12 million MORE people. I just cannot begin to wrap my head around any of it. These men need to be held accountable and I truly hope that you haven’t been affected by anything similar and same goes for anyone you know.
I am really sorry to be talking about these things here but since this is a space dedicated to women footballers, they are women and people above anything else.
I don’t know what else to say for now.
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Matriarchal
There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that there is a lack of leadership at our club, that the Kroenke’s aren’t truly invested in success and that there are things happening up at the board that makes us all wonder WTF is going on. They have turned our club into a meme and when I say our club of course I mean the men’s team aka the patriarchal side. Of course this doesn’t truly or fully apply to our beloved AWFC side of the Arsenal family.
Needless to say I have some criticism for our recruitment, some of Renee’s decisions, how weird this obsession with home grown talent is and how the club panders to very young fans for loyalty aka merch sales. But one thing I would never ever associate with AWFC or the academy for that matter is becoming obsessed with the micromanagement of one person, worst of all a man. That is what I think Mikel Arteta has done.
The reason why I bring this is up is because I think if he would only be humble and open enough to ask Renee how she won the damn CL and how she beat those teams against all odds, he would change a lot, which is what we all need.
She has the answers. She is extremely proactive… she makes changes when she needs too, she knows her best XI, she motivates the players and they all love her. Not saying he doesn’t but we are being put in a situation where we know a new leader is needed and like my friend AlbertJTV always says: it’s time for a new voice.
Look at what happened when that absolutely terrible manager we had got sacked (he didn’t quit, he got sacked) and how the players started smiling again and were full of confidence beating Lyon and Barcelona etc etc etc. Absolutely historic.
Do you think the man that never takes accountability (insert former manager too) has the minerals to ask a woman for advice? to pick her brain? I truly don’t think so but he fucking should.
Renee is not perfect and none of us are, yet she is a winner, literally a historic winner than isn’t so just because of luck or pity. She has earned her way to the very top, even if she didn’t want to be a manager in the first place, but we all feel safe with her and safety leads to self belief which leads to intention which sometimes leads to success and others leads to learning.
I have spoken directly with people at the club and they all said the same thing about Renee… She’s empathetic. That is not just a great compliment but a sign of a true motivator. Mikel surely has empathy, I have no doubt about it, but does he have the braveness to sit back and admit he has no idea what he is doing??
I gotta tell you, it would be hard for me to do that in any setting so I don’t envy his position nor do I think this is something that he must do, I’m simply putting a question and perspective out to the universe.
All I know is we have to and need to embrace the matriarchy in football if the whole sport isn’t going to do it, then we should as a club.
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Summer OFF
Every footballer needs a break. Us fans need a break. The amount of matches professional footballers play in modern times is absolutely insane. We have all heard Viv and Leah bring it up, we all see the injuries…from ACLs to torn achilles and don’t forget about mental health situations as well. It’s a lot.
It seems like there has been a major tournament every single summer since the pandemic pretty much and it has to be exhausting for everyone involved and I know for a fact that this summer can’t come soon enough for a whole plethora of reasons.
My hope is that they are given lots of time off and that there is different footage than just dogs and coffee. I want all of the players to travel, go to the beach, sleep a lot, go golfing, swimming, walk around NYC or come to LA and do absolutely. nothing.
If nothing else they need time away from football to also think about life after football. Time flies and next thing you know you’re playing your last season in the WSL and you don’t know what you’re gonna do. Some of the most important periods of my life have been when I haven’t been busy and I had to figure out what the hell my life would be like.
Another thing about tournaments is that there is constant disappointment and heartbreak and I get that this is part of life and sports but I cannot take Steph Catley not winning another trophy. If I see her crying on the pitch or just crying anywhere it is gonna break my heart.
England fans are somewhat spoiled and you’ve won 2 euros but as Oranjeleeuwinnen fan, it’s been brutal and since I still hope to see Viv AND DvD *the original, I need this summer to be completely and utterly boring as fuck.
Just read some books queens. Go to the spas, go to the mediation retreats, all of that and more.
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No Domestic Trophies
No matte how poorly a league campaign starts or finishes, when you’re in a cup competition there’s always a chance of getting silverware. In our case there were 3 cups, two of them domestic and we have failed to win, yet again. If I’m not mistaken the last time we won an FA Cup was ten years ago and I wasn’t even following AWFC then, which seems like a lifetime ago because I cannot see myself without our club being a priority in my everyday life.
The reality is that we got beat by a Brighton team that deserved it much more. That is unacceptable and if were to put the blame on anyone I would say its absolutely Renee’s fault and without a doubt Clare and the board.
I say Renee because there’s no universe where you field a weak team for such a big match, and you don’t have to look farther than Mikel Arteta’s stubbornness and lack of proactivity. I cannot believe we copied the MO from MA and it is just a terrible result for a club that wanted to build from last year’s CL triumph.
Would players want to join our club if we stink up the joint domestically? IDK. City are gonna run away with it and we threw it away the first few matches. I’m convinced they will win the CL next season and they always just keep getting world class players for as many positions as possible and we just don’t and that’s where I blame Clare and the board.
How the fuck do you not have a proper replacement for McCabe? Foord and Frida have made such poor decisions over the past couple of years that I don’t know if they would start for many elite European teams. Again, it’s all about recruitment and don’t even get me started on Taylor playing left back when she’s a right back. We can sign Ona all you want… she’s still a right back so essentially we will have Fox, Holmberg, Hinds and Batlle?? hahahahaha wtf.
I wrote about McCabe yesterday and the only player in world football that is a close enough replacement would be Bacha and she still doesn’t have the bite and aggression that Katie has. I’m so scared the club will treat her like they treated Viv. Pay her whatever she needs and keep her for as long as possible FFS.
If the whole Stina and Russo partnership was something to build upon why change it? I’m not the biggest fan of it but still, two matches and that somewhat worked… but sooo many changes.
Also, can anyone tell me what was Daphne doing for the second goal?? It feels like she took her hands away from the shot and she could’ve stopped it. Watch it over, it’s madness!!!!!
We just looked like a whole different team and the substitutions did absolutely nothing either.
What a strange match.
We cannot play like this in the WSL or we will not make the CL and guess what? The club isn’t gonna like that from a money perspective and Ona isn’t gonna come and why would you extend a contract or sign a new one if we don’t play elite football?
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11 Left for McCabe
Eleven. Just eleven. That is the amount of matches that Katie McCabe has left in an Arsenal shirt if she is to actually leave our club and those 11 are only if the girls make it to the CL and FA Cup finals. This is gonna happen a lot with a lot of players as the club moves them on or pushes them out or however you wanna see it.
You can be sad about it, you can try to make it a “positive” thing or, if you’re like me, you can do both. I will miss her very much, she’s one of my players and like I’ve said before, the player I’ve seen in person the most. Only 3 times but enough to make me so very happy. You are all so lucky that you’ve seen her so many more times.The point being that we need to appreciate them NOW, specially Katie who as you know (if you’re read this blog) I see as a “throw forward” player aka a player of the future aka we want every player to be as dynamic as her.
And not to be rude but my guess is that it’ll be the same amount of matches for Beth, Stina, Frida, Pelova, Manu, maybe Steph, which I don’t think my heart could handle.
Every summer brings a risk of legendary players moving on. I love them all but I love some more than others, that’s just a fact and I would trade some of the players leaving for a fan favorite or two. When some of them go a lot of what we know and love about Arsenal Women will go and the club and board are doing what they can to make you believe some of these women are replaceable.
Katie isn’t, and neither is Steph and Viv, DvD, Jill, JORDAN NOBBS, etc weren’t but they want new fans to cling onto new players so they perpetuate “loyalty” by way of merch sales and match attendance. Make no mistake about it.
Honestly NONE of them are. Every single woman that has ever laced up a pair of footballing boots at any level is a queen, a goddess and will forever have my respect, which they will have with any footwear too. I just have to point out sometimes how at the end of the day Arsenal is a money making entity, that’s what they value: MONEY, more than actual success and I mean that as it mostly relates to the men. Shocker!
Make sure you share some love with her and with yourself. Sit with the feeling of how privileged we have all been to watch them all play for us, together on the same pitch “countless times.”
I’m not over Dom leaving, let alone Lia Walti or even Leonie Maier who deserved more and so did Vicki Schnaderbeck.
Say hi to Katie for me.
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A loss that is a win
That’s one of those crazy things that happen in football. People that don’t love this sport would have a hard time understanding how someone, let alone millions of people, be happy by losing. Needless to say theres a caveat to this and we had won the first leg, duh.
Lots of positives to take from yesterday. Daphne flawless, Alessia had probably her best match ” as a 10″ ever for us, Kim solid as per. Also when Beth came in she once again proves she’s among the best players on the pitch and we NEED her at 10 supporting Alessia.
However, there was a lot of things that Renee needs to address IMO.
The first one is telling her coaching staff to calm the fuck down. These men are just yelling and screaming and complaining to the 4th ref all the time. I cannot think of any other women’s club where this happens and if they all have to be sent off and be in the stands forever then so be it.
Let the woman do her job, in peace.
I also cannot understand how Foord and Frida keep making the same mistakes over and over and their poor decision making didn’t cost us yesterday but it will if they keep doing it. That’s just how football works and we got so lucky yesterday. Had McCabe been sent off as she should’ve, those last few minutes would’ve been insane and potentially catastrophic.
Foord always tries to run through people and it never works because they are people and not clouds. What’s with that? She was through on goal and made the worst possible decision but as I have said before, all is forgiven FOREVER because of that tackle vs Rolfo in the final last year. So, I’m sorry Caitlin, I apologize, you do you, boo.
We simply cannot afford to not score like we did yesterday. If we play against Lyon or Barcelona or Bayern, we will have to be considerably more ruthless because if we won’t have Leah and Steph, WE WILL CONCEDE GOALS. I don’t know how bad Steph’s injury is but we better hope that she’s back when the tie comes.
The goal we allowed was really had. Watch it back… really, really poor defending and we got lucky to be fair. LWM had one of her best matches for us I’ve seen in a while but these types of mistakes are among the reasons why I think we need Leah and Steph, as much as possible. BTW she had a very cool interview with Jen Beattie for the feed here in the USA.
Let me clear something up too, I’m not worried about our defense. Holmberg is the real deal and Hinds is as solid as you’d want a player to be. Katie is Katie and I trust her with my life and also we need to talk about the very few matches she has left in an Arsenal shirt.
I’m gonna miss her.
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A very subjective look into AWFC 