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The Tube, Navigation apps & Viv’s Call-up
Shortly after recording my podcast I took my bags and proceeded to walk towards the tube and headed to Heathrow. To say that commuting and getting around London was a total breeze would be an understatement. And I get that you would say: ummm yeah? its one of the most important cities in the world! Or you might even mention that this has been a thing for along time BUT if you dislike underground trains like in NYC, like me, then you might get why I don’t usually like the tube. So this was a breeze TO ME.
What this trip taught me was that it wasn’t about the trains or being underground or people; it was strictly about my dislike of getting lost and potentially ending up at a place where I shouldn’t end up at and what the consequences of that might be. Now, thanks to google maps this is just not an issue basically ever, and the technology will only get better and better.
There are other apps too like Rome2Rio etc so this is just an amazing time to be alive. I felt informed, confident and all I really needed was enough power on my phone to see where I was going. So, if you have ever been worried about the train, the tube, buses, traveling by yourself, etc I’m here to tell you that YOU GOT THIS. The time is now and be more worried about having a power bank for your phone and things like that, that if you’re going to get on the wrong train.
While I was trying not to have my bags roll over someone’s foot, I got a very gratifying notification…
Arsenal Women and Oranjeleeuwinnen twitter were very happy camps when we got the news that Viv had gotten called up by the squad. There seemed to be a whole variety of opinions about this, but lots of people, including myself were surprised, and I’m about to explain why that was for me.
I’m not surprised about her making a comeback, or about anything related to her fitness etc… We have all seen her training for Arsenal, we kinda/sorta know her recovery timeline if we compare it to Beth’s too and yeah she’s been involved with the dutch squad as far as I can tell, a bunch. This “as far as I can tell” sounds so silly as if I have any sort of inside info. This is what the internet does to people my friend! it makes you (think you) sound important.
What surprised me was just my unconscious assumption that before an international call-up there would be some involved with club. This is not accurate for factual reasons and its just also not based on any stat or data. In my brain I was like: “oh cool, I thought she would play for arsenal first.”
That’s it. Either way I’m beyond thrilled for her and I just cannot wait to see her on the pitch, just like all of you and the anticipation is so very exciting for us fans, imagine what she might be feeling… and Leah and Laura and Teyah.
❤
d
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THAT Comeback
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My soul left my body
Holy mother of Dennis Bergkamp that was ridiculous. I have never ever in my entire life as a sports fan, witnessed anything like this. Nowhere near this.
I have been lucky enough to watch The Netherlands with Cocu, Davids and others, Ronaldinho’s first match with Barcelona, the girls play the FA Cup Final… countless baseball games, I’ve watched Tom Brady play a few times, Kobe Bryant a couple of times, David Beckham, Gerrard and Thierry in the MLS too… but none of the games meant as much to me because I have never been as committed or involved with any other team/franchise as I am with arsenal, but beyond any of this, we were all there for something that we didn’t know was going to happen but we were all hoping.
I have never felt energy like I felt the moment Beth walked over to I don’t know who haha, and she was getting directions, pointers, strategy or being shown silly cat memes. THAT was the moment when something flipped for me. That and also the 12 minutes of added time. I’m getting goosebumps as I type this too…
She is a game changer and after waiting close to a year, she was finally on the pitch and not only did she look electric, but she got an assist, but of course you saw it. But this is why I feel so lucky to have been there in person and why I always say how lucky local fans are… what I felt live is not something I’ve felt before. The energy shift, the collective love and hope and joy… It was special.
I was very fortunate to have been there and I will chat more about the match itself on the pod tomorrow!
d ❤
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Villa Prediction
I’m just hours away from witnessing my first ever WSL match and only second ever Arsenal Women match. Also, if all goes well this will be my 3rd time seeing Katie McCabe play, which is always an incredible experience. Take this as a reminder of how lucky you are to get to see these incredible women all the time. I’m jealous is the most positive of ways.
The match is a tough one to objectively predict I think, as there are many factors (duh). The first thing that comes to mind is that hopefully there will not be a 3 at the back situation and if there is, you know what I’m going to say.
I would also love to see Cooney Cross make her debut actually and this seems, to me anyway, like a great match for that to happen. More than anything because I don’t think she will be intimidated by making her debut at The Emirates, not only because she’s elite, but because she lived the madness that was Australia as a host nation, so this will be chill for her I reckon.
Villa have started even worse than us so I’m hoping that continues of course. Sadly I don’t think Nobbs will start and also sadly for us in a way is that Van Domselaar will be on goal, whom I love a lot.
Anyway, here is my preferred lineup, not my predicted one as I have no damn clue what Jonas will do, how or why.
Post match “analysis” hella late tonight.
d ❤
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Whitesenal FC
We all saw the squad pic and we all love it. It’s amazing. I love all the girls and staff. I truly do, but what has been making the rounds on twitter is the convo about the obvious lack of diversity in the squad.
I’m not going to assume anything or imply anything, because I just don’t have any info and it’s none of my business anyway but my opinion on this will be centered around the fact the one of the reasons I fell in love with arsenal was because I watched Ian Wright, Kevin Campbell and David Rocastle on VHS tapes growing up and felt I looked like them. They had a skin color similar to mine and I saw myself in the club.
Representation matters and if it did for me, just a fan, imagine what it can and does mean to a young black girl who wants to play for the Arsenal today. There’s not a lot there to be identified with based on this alone.
Lianne, Alex, Rachel, Dan etc etc etc. These are historic women and there are so many historic women in the making that could be part of Arsenal and quite frankly they should.
Villa preview coming late tonight or early tomorrow.
xo
d ❤
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Gratitude
It feels surreal to say and goddamn am I happy to say that this is very real: this is the first blog post I have ever done from London. I made it safe and sound and after 3 days of normal sleep, its not even 7pm and my body is absolutely shot so hello jet lag, my old friend.
I also have to say that I’m emotionally drained, in the best ways possible, after the incredible event I was honored to be a part of in Cologne. Like I mentioned a few days ago and on my podcast, I got invited to speak at the annual alumni convention for the SAE Institute in Germany, where I spoke about getting pop gigs, how to keep them and more importantly, how to remain as happy and healthy as possible during that whole journey.
I am very aware of how privileged I am to be asked to do something like that and I’m truly humbled by not just the actual experience I lived, but the symbolism of this being something I have a big passion for and would love do more of.
And on the vein of gratitude I have to say that I’m incredible thankful and lucky to be here in London for what will be my second Arsenal women match ever. I bloody cannot wait and I am also holding space for all of those fans that live all over the world, that for whatever reason cannot ever make it to matches or to England overall.
I know the club knows how important your support is. You love the crest and the players in an unconditional way and that can be seen with so many fan accounts from countries all over the world, in many languages.
I hope one day this universe rewards you all, specially the incredible @argsenal and @spanishawfc
You will all be with me on Sunday.
d ❤
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Headed to The Emirates
d ❤
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3-5-2rauma
A few days have passed since both the Man Utd and the Liverpool matches and I have had a lot of time to think about it all. The first thing that comes to mind is how there’s SO MUCH FOOTBALL TO BE PLAYED and literally anything can and usually happens, that’s just the nature of this maddening game we all love. Every single season the unexpected happens and crazy stuff goes down and why anyone would think that this is not the case this season should go for a long walk.
I understand the reaction a lot of people have had as it relates to dropped points being absolutely crucial at the end of the season and those points seem even more precious in the WSL but I think that due to the league becoming much more competitive coupled with some horrendous refereeing that has become the norm in the whole of England it seems, I feel like those points are some we will be able to recover from and earn, one way or another.
My hope is that the next match vs Villa at The Emirates will be our first victory, and I’m not just saying that because I’m going to be there 😁😭🧡 I hope we put in a great shift and get the result this time and let’s face it: we’re due for a win goddamit.
I am so very excited to not only watch our girls but it will be my first ever match at The Emirates… which I’ve been to and toured but I have never been to a match there. And I gotta tell you, I’m also very happy that it’ll be against Villa so I can hopefully watch Jordan play plus Rachel Daly, Anna Patten and my fave keeper on planet earth aka Daphne Van Domselaar.
Since I’m a selfish asshat, I hope Jonas plays all the players I want to see on the pitch and we move on from that 3 at the back situation that made my FA Cup final experience unforgettable, to put it in a nice way haha. But honestly I’m not really sure what to expect and I don’t know how to feel about that.
Will this be Beth’s first match?!
d ❤
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…
There is nothing more serious about War and trust me when I say that my intention is not to make light of this situation at all. It’s tragic, it’s awful and in moments like we’re living, or whenever there is a school shooting here in the USA, which is basically every day, I can’t help but think how I dislike the idea of guns, canons, and anything war related, even if its in sport.
This is something that I didn’t struggle with before but recently, and I’m talking about the last 10 years or so, I have become so pro-gun control that I am irked about “arsenal” and the idea of being “gunners.” And I know that it might seem a little weird or that I’m being too sensitive but all of this that I feel is just something that I wanted to share in case anyone out there felt the same way.
Obviously I’m not saying that we should change the name, like with anything, people can justify or excuse anything name for any business, etc. I just wouldn’t mind, as things stand at this moment in time, that our club would have a different name.
I’m trying to come up with a comparison or something similar but I really can’t. I don’t really know of any club, at least off the top of my head, whose name implies something that people might find that goes against some of their beliefs. Like, it’s not that I don’t believe in guns, they exist.
The last thing I associated with arsenal women players is violence, it’s war, its guns, it’s bullets, it’s death. And this is something that I’m struggling with at the moment because even in passing, the celebration of anything associated with things that I am fundamentally against is a complete and utter mindf*ck.
Anyway, the point of this blog is to talk about lots of things and this is what came to mind today. As always, I encourage anyone out there that wants to blog, that wants to release Arsenal related etc to do so. I believe talking about all things arsenal women is important and I support you.
d ❤
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Musicians need to be Goalkeepers
Today I am getting all my packing done and sorting a few things out before I fly out to Cologne, Germany to speak at an incredible conference at SAE Intitute’s headquarters. There, I have the pleasure of talking about my experience playing with pop superstars, how I’ve gotten there and what I believe are tools that will get a lot of people doing what they love in music, at a high level.
Among the things I touch on in my talk, is that musicians need to have to have two athletes inside them: one of them is goalkeeper and the other one is top secret, just kidding… it’s a skateboarder which doesn’t make sense on its own but I’ll explain this to you some other day. But back to the GKs… there’s a very specific reason why I mention this.
I say this with love because I LOVE goalkeepers and have been one at my local league for 9 years on and off. I love the position and because I love it, I can see certain things that not everyone can but, simply put: goalkeepers are very “interesting” people who have lots of attributes that other athletes don’t have, but one of them is basically having the memory of a goldfish. GKs need to be very, very good at forgetting a mistake they make, they cannot let it hold them down or make them doubt themselves for the rest of the match or the next shot they get. I know this should and can apply to every athlete in a way but goalkeeper mistakes are so amplified and scrutinized that it just feels much more different.
Goalkeepers are weird enough and when a club like ours seems to have a very strange and weird GK policy, club wide, it’s just very confusing and I don’t really know what must be going through the minds of the keepers or anyone near those decisions really. And if you don’t know what’s happening, here’s a very short and dumbed down version, a simplified one at that: Arsenal have decided that have 2 #1’s is a thing. Ok, this isn’t exactly the best explanation but it all started when the men’s side bought David Ray and the world of football assumed Ramsdale was going to just be our #2. Blah blah blah, I don’t wanna talk much about the men’s team BUT Jonas came out and said something very similar to what Arteta has been saying about how there are no number ones, and all that stuff. *Sigh…
Manu is our #1 and the reality is that as much as she isn’t world class to the eyes of many, she’s by far our best goalkeeper option. She should’ve played against united and if there’s someone that has earned numerous chances, is her. She saved us, pun intended, so many damn times last season I’ve lost count. Why is she not getting that start? why is Ramsdale not getting a start for the CL or vs man City? Why? What is happening and why is all this GK stuff happening in tandem with both squads?
Doesn’t make sense, but that is the beauty of being a fan… it affects me deep to my core, but it’s also not my problem haha.
d ❤
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SPOTIFYarsenal, arsenal blog, arsenal women, arsenal women blog, AWFC, beth mead, Caitlin foord, FIFA WWC, GK, goalies, goalkeepers, Katie mccabe, Kim little, Leah williamson, manu zinsberger, oranjeleeuwinnen, Steph catley, that arsenal women podcast, the matildas, UWCL, Vivianne Miedema, women’s super league, woso, WSL
A very subjective look into AWFC 