In your footballing life, when did you feel furthest away from being a Champions League winner?
I came into this team as a 17-year-old after they had literally won everything. I got in because a lot of people moved on or they needed people to step up because of injuries. So I got personal gain, but we lost out on that success the club had been used to for a few years.
I say that, but I’ve still picked up quite a few trophies here. I’ve had a good career and it’s not over yet. Back in 2020, after we’d won the WSL again, it felt like we were onto something but then the momentum dipped again and I thought, will this ever be a thing for me? I remember Jonas asking me, “Can you imagine winning the Champions League anywhere but Arsenal?” I knew the answer to that but I also thought, “We’re going for it now. This is the change.”
It really was a focus of everyone behind the scenes: to become a team that could compete across Europe. I think I started to believe it from then, whereas before that, I would never let myself dream. We came so close to the final in 2023 and, to be honest, that should have pushed me further away. I’d done my ACL and missed out on the opportunity to help the team.
That should have been the moment I felt furthest away, but it fueled me. Feeling so close just drives you on.
You were a mascot at the 2007 final, the last time we won the Champions League. That must really provide perspective for how much the game has grown?
I loved it. I loved that day. I do remember quite a lot about it still. There are really nice moments in life and that’s what I took it as at the time. Fast forward to Lisbon and there were definitely times in the day when I thought, “I could do with just being a mascot today.” I’m so happy for the club that we were able to repeat that feat, and that I could be there when it happened.