Jonty Colman
BBC Sport journalist
Arsenal and England captain Leah Williamson featured as a substitute against the Toffees
Arsenal and England captain Leah Williamson spoke to the media following the Gunners’ 0-0 draw with Everton at Goodison Park.
She discussed the result, Arsenal’s midweek Champions League meeting with Bayern Munich, hopes for the season and more.
On the result: “I think we played good football and we looked a threat, it’s just getting the ball over the line.
“I think at the start of the game, we could’ve played with a bit more intensity and urgency. I think that would’ve helped us more as the game went on and would’ve helped break them down a little bit more. I don’t know. At the end, you’ve basically got their whole team in the box and they are a strong team, just throwing themselves in front of it. That’s football. Their keeper had a worldie.
On dropping points the how competitive the Women’s Super League is this season: “I think if you asked me a couple of seasons ago, I think I would’ve said it felt like we’ve lost the league even now because the points weren’t being dropped elsewhere. Maybe, I’m hoping that that is the case this year but from our [view], we don’t expect to have many games like that and for it to come so early in the season is disappointing.”
On the importance for squad depth: “Go back seasons ago, there’s no way our squads would have been able to deal with this workload. It’s important that there’s rotation, there’s tactical decisions that go into it. It’s not my job to do that, I’m glad. The schedule is unforgiving so we have to be ready. It’s not about reserving energy, we have to energise ourselves by playing at that intensity.”
On her concussion enforced absence: “It’s something you have to take seriously which is very frustrating but now, I feel good. I feel really good and actually, I’ve had a great week training in terms of the way I feel and today, I felt good as well. Just need the results to start coming now as well.”
On facing Bayern Munich and the differences in the squad from that faced them in 2023: “I think we’re a more mature squad than we were then. I think in terms of the way that we play the game and go into games, but I think the intensity is still the same. You are playing two really high intensity teams against each other. I know that they are in form, but I think so are we, I know we’ve dropped points today but we are. I’m really looking forward to this one.”
On the importance of being back in the Champions League: “Massive. Qualifying for the Champions League, that’s the most important week of our season until the last in my opinion. This football club has to be in the Champions League. We’ve got 25,000 here today with no crazy advertisement or pushes to sell tickets, that’s how many people want to come and watch us and they deserve Champions League nights as well.”
