Taylor, how would you describe your first nine months back at Arsenal?
Is there even a word to describe it? I would honestly just say it’s been crazy to come back after so many years away. An amazing crazy! I look back at my signing day back in the summer, knowing I’d rejoined Arsenal, and then I think about where I am now and how much I’ve progressed as a player already. It’s amazing. A lot of incredible things have happened for me this season, so it’s something I can be really proud of.
Was there a moment when you felt completely settled?
I don’t know if I’m able to pinpoint an exact moment, but the more you’re around the girls, the more games you play and the more time you spend in the environment, it just becomes home. Because I’ve been at the club before and it felt like home then, it’s been lovely to relive that feeling. I loved my time at Arsenal, growing up here and making friends with the likes of Lotte. Now I’m here again. It took a few weeks to properly sink in that I was back, but now it’s such a nice feeling.
You knew several of the girls before, but how nice is it to be team-mates again? Who else have you grown close to?
It’s so nice. I think everyone has those friendships where you might not speak for a while, but when you do it’s like it’s been no time at all. That’s what I’ve always had with Less and Lotte. Now, I get to spend every day with them!
We’ve been friends since we were about 14, so we already have a lot of memories together, only now we’re all on the same team and get to share in those successes. It means an awful lot. Lotte and Less have both been my rock since I arrived, supporting me massively and vice versa. Even before I came here I was so proud watching the girls win the Euros. I was proud to see them shining and now we’re back together, hopefully we can shine together.
Our whole team are so great, but I’ve grown really close to Vic and Codi – they’re such a funny double act. I’m also tight with Kyra and Steph. Steph and I are always bumping into each other while walking the dogs. Honestly, I love all the girls here. I get along with everyone.
How does it feel compared to your first spell at the club?
It’s so nice to see where I came from. Arsenal always felt big and successful in my eyes, but looking at how far we’ve come is amazing. I’m so glad to see that some parts of the club have stayed the same, like the values and the atmosphere, while huge improvements have been made in terms of facilities and growth off the pitch.
The club’s ambitions are sky-high, especially this season, and you feel that across both men’s and women’s teams. It’s a really inspirational environment to be in. I’m motivated to succeed as an individual player and for our team to be the best it can be, so we can keep that trophy cabinet full.
What have you worked on specifically since joining the club?
It’s always hard when you move to a new club because there are a lot of adaptations you have to make. Every team plays differently and it’s so important to get to know your new team-mates, on and off the pitch. That takes time, but I never felt like anyone was rushing me or that process. The girls have been great, the coaching staff have been great, and I’ve just focused on what I need to improve on.
I think I’ve completely changed as a player compared to the start of the season. That’s something I noticed when I was here as a kid – you have to step up and maintain your standards to play at the same level as the rest of the girls.
I’ve been working on all areas of my game, but I definitely think my passing and one-on-one defending have improved. As a team we love having the ball, which has allowed me to work on my technical ability in possession. The variety of opposition has been a great challenge, too. The WSL has developed so much, even since I started playing, but we’re also constantly up against different styles and top players in the Champions League as well. That requires a lot of adapting.
I came to Arsenal for a reason and I knew I was good enough to be here. Right now, I’m happy with how much I’ve improved and hopefully I can keep that up.
How have you found working under Renée and our coaching staff?
I’ve really enjoyed it. Az [D’Antino] is very funny and he likes to keep the motivation and spirits high, which is exactly what we all need during tough moments. Renée has been amazing and it’s nice to have someone you can have good, honest conversations with. From our very first chat back in the summer, I loved her positivity around setting the ambitions for this club. Especially over the past few months, you can see how much we all want to achieve for this team because we’re fighting for it.
As a team, we’re really hitting our stride in the second half of the season. What do you think that comes down to?
I think it helps when you start winning games alongside great performances. During the first half of the season, we were creating an awful lot of chances but we weren’t able to be as clinical. Now, everything has clicked and we’ve found our rhythm together. We’re scoring lots of goals while performing really well.
There’s a definite buzz and spirit within the team at the moment. You can feel it with everyone. We all want to do well, we all want to win, and I think it’s that winning mentality that’s really pushing us through. You have to be relentless, even when results or matches don’t quite go your way at first. You have to keep finding a way.
What’s been your favourite match so far?
Even though it was a disappointing result, I’d probably say going up against Lyon, as it was my Champions League debut. I’ve been enjoying all the games this year, but the vibes were definitely good against Chelsea and West Ham in the league. When you’re in this mentality that we’re in now, there’s just a feeling that you can’t explain.
What’s so special about playing in front of the supporters at Emirates Stadium?
It’s unreal. Sometimes I still have to pinch myself when we get to play there. Even when you walk out onto the pitch for the warm-up, the atmosphere really does give you that extra motivation and extra oomph. You can hear our supporters for the entire game and they always create the best vibe. I think every game I play there is the best game, because it just keeps getting better.
"you have to be relentless, even when results or matches don't quite go your way at first"
Of course, you were injured for the final, but did you enjoy the FIFA Champions Cup? A first taste of Arsenal silverware!
Yeah, those pictures of me on crutches were no good! I was trying to bin the crutches, but the physios wouldn’t let me. Of course, it was still amazing to be part of the game beforehand to reach that final. Winning a trophy gave us a small taste of what we can achieve as a club. It showed us where we want to go. That game and the FIFA Champions Cup competition itself made history, so to be able to do that at the Emirates was amazing. It’s 100 per cent spurred us on to get more trophies this season and beyond.
How does it feel to play in the Champions League? Is there extra pressure?
These are the games and the competitions you want to be in. The Champions League quarter-final against Chelsea was tough, but we fought our way through it to be in this position. We want to go all the way and make sure that trophy is ours once again. The Champions League is a one-of-a-kind tournament. Because the girls won it last year, they all have that knowledge of what it takes and how it feels to win it. That’s only made them want it more.
We want to fight for it this year and next year and for the foreseeable. Every match is also an incredibly difficult and unique challenge, so we have to fight until the literal end. It’s a trophy that every footballer wants to get their hands on, so you have to play for that.
What are your favourite ways to unwind and relax away from the football pitch?
I love watching a little crime series. Those are my favourites. I’ve not got a show on the go at the moment, so I’m really struggling, but I’ll find one!
I love taking my dog, Coda, for a walk and then just chilling with the girls. Less and I love a little shop or a trip to the cinema, so it’s lovely to have them all so close. I’m also only an hour away from my family now, so I get to see my nephews a lot.
Describe how it felt to make your senior debut for England this season?
It was quite unexpected! I take a lot of pride in my dual citizenship with the UK and Jamaica, and I love having two nationalities.
It was a dream come true to first have that conversation with Sarina about coming back into the fold, and then playing in the last camp competitively. It wasn’t something I’d imagined until fairly recently, but I think it just shows how hard I’ve worked and how hard I’ll continue to work now I’ve put that England shirt back on. It was a surreal feeling but it’s made my family very proud.