18 September 2023 , 14:45
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Beth Mead believes Arsenal can use their disappointment of their early European exit to fuel a strong WSL season.
Mead, 28, is closing in on a return to action after missing the last 10 months with injury, after rupturing her ACL last year which forced her to miss the World Cup this summer. The Lionesses star was part of the Arsenal squad that went to Sweden for a recent Champions League qualifying tournament.
However, that ended in disappointment when the Gunners were knocked out on penalties by Paris FC, following a dramatic 3-3 draw, with Mead on the bench. The result means Arsenal won't be able to repeat their outstanding European run from last season. Without Mead, Leah Williamson and Mead's partner Viv Miedema, all ACL injury victims, they reached the semi-final before they were narrowly knocked out by Wolfsburg.
This time around they won't even grace the group stage. But Mead, who is working towards an on-pitch return, is confident they won't allow the early blow to overshadow the rest of their season and says there has already been a reaction behind the scenes. Arsenal open their new WSL season against Liverpool on October 1.
"We have to use it (for the domestic season) ," Mead told Mirror Football. "No-one else in this world feels as devastated and as gutted as we do as players, about the result. Ultimately we fell short, we lost on penalties which is such a cruel way to go out of such an amazing competition.
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“But we just have to dust ourselves off. I know we can respond. We went straight into a training camp, we got our heads down and it’s the most competitive training has been in a long, long time.
“We’re putting ourselves in such good said to prepare before the start of the season. Of course as an Arsenal team with such a high amount of quality in the team, we want to do well this year. Fingers crossed we can do that."
Beth Mead is closing in on a return to the pitchA return for Mead would be a major boost for the Gunners ahead of the new WSL season, with the first game against Liverpool taking place at the Emirates. And the 2022 Euros Player of the Tournament revealed she is closing in on a comeback.
“I’m chomping at the bit to get back," Mead added. "I’m hungry for football more than ever at the moment because I’ve had it taken away from me for quite a while.
“It’s been really nice to have actual teammates rather than mannequins to run about with! It’s a big improvement. It’s been so refreshing for me. To be back on the pitch with my teammates, I’ve been like a kid at Christmas.
"Joining in full sessions and being kicked in the air, I never thought I’d enjoy it! But it’s nice to get that physical contact again. I’m in a really good place, its just a shame I lose them all for another international period again, but I’ve enjoyed it so far, so fingers crossed I’ll be ready to go. I’ve had a good pre-season, I’m training with the team now and hopefully I’ll be ready to go come the 1st of October."
Mead was speaking at workshop organised by the LEGO Group focusing on helping young girls to recover from setbacks to reach their full potential. And the England forward herself has had to call upon her own mental strength in recent years.
She suffered a serious injury last season that ended her chances of appearing in another World Cup for the Lionesses, and only 18 months before that had missed out on selection for Team GB at the Olympics Games. Away from the pitch she had the toughest setback of all with the untimely death of her mother June after a brave battle with cancer.
Beth Mead suffered an ACL injury last November in a 3-2 defeat to Man Utd (2022 Getty Images)“In my case I’ve gone from the highest high of my career," explained Mead. "From winning a Euros, playing the best football I was ever playing, to then having a such a major injury that kept me out of the game for nine months.
“And on a personal level I lost my Mum in that time as well, obviously that was incredibly difficult and you never want to go through that. But during that time, the process of dealing with it has helped me build as a person.
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“I’ve had good days and bad days, but that’s ok. I’ve used the support platform I had around me to get through those moments. Not everyone has that unfortunately, but I think it’s very important to have real support around you.
“I’ve had horrible, horrible setbacks in my work life and my personal life during that time. But I would say if I could do it (comeback) most people can."
Beth Mead was speaking to Mirror Football during the LEGO Group UK's Play Workshop. The LEGO Group UK is on a mission to teach young girls how to recover from setbacks in order to help them achieve their full potential, both on and off the pitch, via their ‘Unstoppable FC’ programme.