Women’s Super League

VIVIANNE MIEDEMA could only have dreamt as a youngster that she would one day storm past her childhood hero, Robin van Persie, as Holland’s all-time top scorer.
The Dutch star has enjoyed a meteoric rise in the game, lifting major trophies with Bayern Munich, Arsenal and Holland, before becoming the WSL’s record goal-scorer.

Vivianne Miedema won the WSL title with Arsenal in 2019Credit: Getty Images – Getty

Fans probably didn’t expect Miedema to become the league’s most prolific striker after she arrived in England from Bavaria as a fresh faced 20-year-old back in 2017.
But it has taken her just FOUR seasons to make history.
She became the top-flight’s record goal-scorer after hitting a hat-trick against Tottenham last time out, taking her tally to 52 goals in just 50 games.
The striker glided past former record-holder, Nikita Parris, who found the net 49 times in 110 matches for Manchester City and Everton.

When she reached the milestone she cracked a rare smile, having often been branded as “ice-cold” by fans for not being one to overly celebrate when she scores.
And at last year’s World Cup in France, Miedema gave fans another glimpse of her funner side.
She celebrated with a cheeky roly-poly after becoming her country’s all-time top scorer by taking her tally to 60 with two goals against Cameroon.
She said at the time: “It’s a special moment and I made a deal with my brother to make a roll on the pitch.

“Maybe that won’t happen again next time. No more gymnastics!”
She overtook Manon Melis’ 59 and was already dwarfing the men’s record holder and her idol Van Persie, with his 50 goals.
THE MAKING OF MIEDEMA
The strike sensation grew up in a family of football nuts, in Hoogeveen, a town in the north-east of the Netherlands.
Miedema, her father and younger brother Lars would make the 120-mile road trip to Rotterdam to watch their beloved Feyenoord play, when a young Van Persie was just starting out.

Vivianne Miedema met Robin Van Persie when he played for FeyenoordCredit: Instagram @ viviannemiedema

Miedema is close to her brother Lars, who plays for FC Den BoschCredit: Instagram @ viviannemiedema
But her wardrobe soon became filled with Arsenal shirts when her hero moved to the Gunners in 2004.
She told the What The Football podcast: “When I grew up he (Van Persie) was my idol,
“I overtook him as top goal scorer for the nation.
“It was amazing he actually sent me a video and all that it was really cool.
“He was just amazing, that’s the type of number nine I want to be.
“Im a Feyenoord fan in Holland but with Van Persie going to Arsenal I’ve actually been an Arsenal fan.
“I was an Arsenal fan when I was younger , I had all the shirts.”
Miedema now shares the Gunners’ training ground with the likes of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Alexandre Lacazette and Hector Bellerin.
She told SunSport: “Everyone knows I’ve always been a Van Persie fan he was a big hero here In England as well and so I love players like him.
“Obviously you look at the strikers, I love Lacazette. I love the way he wants to play and he wants to involve other people in his game,
“Aubamerang scores a goal almost every week. When Lacazette was injured he would always come in the gym and ask how we are doing.
“A couple of the girls have got a contact with Bellerin so it’s really open, he’s lovely with the girls and really nice.”
COUPLE GOALS
Viv and her long-term girlfriend, Lisa Evans, hit it off during their time together at Bayern Munich.
When recently asked by broadcaster, Shebahn Aherne, how they met, Viv joked: “It was all me, Oktoberfest works miracles, lets just keep it there!”
Scotland international, Lisa, replied: “I’m a light weight so wouldn’t be surprised!”
The pair lifted the 2015/16 Bundesliga trophy together and celebrated with Bayern men, who also won the title that year, on the Rathaus balcony in Munich city centre.
Miedema and Evans were dressed in traditional German dresses known as, dirndl, while rubbing shoulders with the likes of Franck Ribery, Thomas Muller and Arjen Robben.
The couple switched allegiances to Arsenal in the summer of 2017.
The North London stars have been joined at the hip ever since, and Miedema has even developed a trademark Scottish twang to her accent.
They recently brought a new place together and were shacked up in Evans’ parents house in Scotland over lockdown.

Vivianne Miedema met long-term partner Lisa Evans at Bayern Munich, where they lifted the 2015/16 Bundesliga trophy together

Viv and Lisa Evans have been heroes at Arsenal since 2017Credit: Instagram @ viviannemiedema

TROPHY CABINET
The Holland striker quickly became a hero at Arsenal, helping them to their first top-flight trophy in SEVEN years in 2019, as the WSL top-scorer that season.
Miedema’s scintillating form led her to be named the PFA Player of the Year alongside Virgil Van Dijk that year.
The Dutch pair made history after becoming the first players from the same country to win the award in the same year.
Miedema has become an icon in her country and is mobbed by fans even when she’s just stopping in the pub for a low key pint with her pals.
The striker was also nominated for the Ballon d’Or in 2019 after finding the net a record 22 times in the league that campaign.
Fans claimed she was “robbed” after USA superstar Megan Rapinoe clinched the award.

Vivianne Miedema and Virgil Van Dijk were the first players from the same country to win PFA Player of the Year in the same yearCredit: PA:Press Association
But Miedema isn’t one for awards ceremonies in glitzy locations.
She told SunSport at the time: “I don’t really follow any of these things on Twitter, so it was probably one of the girls in the team who texted me like ‘oh congratulations’.
“I’m just focused on what we do as a team and then obviously if something individual comes up, it is quite special,
“But I’m just not really bothered or completely over the moon about it.”
By the age of 23 she had won three league titles in two different countries, lifted a European trophy in 2017 and reached a World Cup final last year.
Miedema’s mouth-watering form over the years has led to fans piling on serious pressure.
The Arsenal legend admitted on the What The Football podcast: “In the Covid period not having the football pressure was actually really nice.
“You didn’t have that feeling like oh I need to perform on a Sunday morning.
“I was like worrying if I was going to eat black pudding or square sausage for breakfast instead of like ‘oh I need to turn up for this game!'”

Watch Vivianne Miedema kick a ball over her head and perfectly into a basketball hoop More

CARLY TELFORD joked she has become the “grandma” of the Lionesses after dropping a huge hint that she will retire from international football, after next year’s Tokyo Olympics.
The England and Chelsea goalkeeper, 33, revealed the youngsters have been giving her stick for her age in training, as the squad prepare to take on Germany in a friendly on Tuesday.

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Carly Telford, 33, hinted she may retire after the Tokyo Olympics next yearCredit: Rex Features

She said: “They’re not shy in reminding me how old I am. But I can still keep up with them just about.
“But I love it. It’s so nice, it’s a breath of fresh air to work with different goalkeepers.
“I’m now officially the grandma of the group. We’ve actually been able to develop, over the past few years, an amazing group of young goalkeepers.
“I think my role is to keep driving the standards and setting the Lionesses standards that I’ve always held.

“It’s helping them understand what it’s like to be a Lioness goalkeeper,
“And trying to make them understand that they don’t have to try and do anything different than just be who they are.
“And making sure that I’m still ahead of them, just a little bit!”
Telford made her international debut at age 20 in 2007, when Hope Powell was at the helm.

The Durham-born stopper admitted she had planned to hang up her boots after next year’s home Euros, before they were postponed to 2022 amid the coronavirus crisis.
She added: “I’m going to be very honest, my goal was to go to the Olympics, which was meant to happen this year, do the home Euros, and then I was probably going to retire.
“I wanted to enjoy my life at 34 years of age and go into the next phase of my career.
“I want to go to the Olympics still. I still want to go to the Euros but I do realise that my age and things may change.
“I don’t know what my club situation will be either.
“So, for now it’s the short sighted game going to the Olympics and then we will see what the future holds.”
The veteran Lioness has been helping youngsters like Manchester City’s Ellie Roebuck, 21, and Everton’s Sandy Maciver, 22, burst onto the scene.
Nowadays, stoppers in the women’s game are supported with full-time training by a specific goalkeeping coach.
But Telford was lucky as a kid to get just 20 minutes, twice a week, with the manager to help her sharpen up her skills between the sticks.

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Carly Telford lifted the She Believes Cup with the Lionesses in 2019Credit: Rex Features

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Telford has been helping young Man City keeper, Ellie Roebuck (far right), in the England training campsCredit: PA:Press Association
She recalled: “I think the demands of a goalkeeper have changed throughout my tenure.
“I’d like to think that now that a lot of the top tier clubs are investing heavily in that department, and the FA have as well.
“What I had at their age was Tuesday, Thursday nights, 20 minutes, if I was lucky.
“It might’ve been the head coach or someone just kicking or volleying a couple of balls at me.
“Then I was just chucked into a session and you crack on and then you performed at the weekend.
“If you were good you got selected for England, if you weren’t, you didn’t. To see the girls’ progress now is huge and I would love to be their age.”

Watch Katie McCabe send Arsenal fans into meltdown with incredible free-kick against Tottenham More

NIKITA PARRIS admitted winning a major tournament is the only way forward for England women, as FA chiefs pile on the pressure.
On Monday, the Lionesses were told anything other than lifting a trophy at either the home Euros next year or the 2023 World Cup would be deemed as a “failure” by Baroness Sue Campbell, head of the women’s game.

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Nikita Parris (right) says anything other than a major trophy is “not good enough”

The England stars fought back tears after suffering a heartbreaking 2-1 defeat to the USA in the semi-finals of the World Cup last year.
They crashed out at the same stage of the 2015 tournament, as well as Euro 2017.
Parris said: “I believe England need to have that pressure of having to win a major tournament.
“I think in the past we’ve said that we’ll go in it to win BUT – there’s always been a but.

“As Sue clearly stated it’s about winning a major tournament for England now and nothing less will be good enough.
“I was truly disappointed in the World Cup when we lost against America because I really thought that was our time.
“But now we have to build on the momentum of getting to semi-finals and not quite having enough to get to the final to win – and now that’s not good enough.
“Now we have to train and get our mind-set right because winning a major tournament is the only way forward for England.”

Parris lifted the Champions League trophy with European top dogs Lyon this year after arriving from Manchester City last summer.

And she fears the English top-flight will suffer if the Lionesses aren’t successful in their home Euros next year.
As the Lionesses prepare to take on two-time World Cup winners Germany in Wiesbaden on Tuesday, the striker added: “The home Euros are an unbelievable time to really push on women’s football in England.
“The Women’s Super League is a great advertisement for clubs and players worldwide to really look at the league and see where it’s going.
“It’s a fantastic league. Even me being abroad and watching as many games,  I think that the league has really pushed on.
“But in order for England to really reach those heights in the eyes of those who are at the very top of women’s football, we have to win a major tournament.”

Watch Katie McCabe send Arsenal fans into meltdown with incredible free-kick against Tottenham More

ARSENAL fans were left drooling after Katie McCabe buried an incredible free-kick in the North London derby.
It took just four minutes for the Ireland skipper to show her set-piece prowess against Tottenham.

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Katie McCabe struck the ball after a short run upCredit: Twitter @ArsenalWFC

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The Arsenal ace sent it dipping and curling beyond the Spurs wallCredit: Twitter @ArsenalWFC

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Tottenham stopper Becky Spencer barely moved an inchCredit: Twitter @ArsenalWFC

A free-kick from the far right of the pitch was launched over the wall before bending and dipping into the far corner.
The motionless goalkeeper, Becky Spencer, couldn’t help but watch the ball ping off the post and fly into the net.
It’s no surprise the clip is doing the rounds on social media and has sent Gunners fans into meltdown.
Twitter user KayPea wrote: “Absolute pin-point precision.

Another fan described the Ireland skipper as “Xhaka-esque”.
Stuart Punnett added: “Beautiful goal, absolute class!”

McCabe set Vivianne Miedema up for her second goal with another clever free-kick before the break.
Miedema broke the all-time WSL scoring record against Spurs on Sunday, as she took her tally up to 52 goals in just 50 games.

Australian star Caitlin Foord also found the net twice at Borehamwood before Lucia Leon headed home a late consolation for Tottenham.
The Gunners ran out 6-1 winners, continuing their perfect start to the top-flight ahead of the international break.

Watch Vivianne Miedema kick a ball over her head and perfectly into a basketball hoop More

THE FA has cut the number of Women’s Super League referees down to a specialised core group in a bid to improve standards amid increased flak.
Referee Lucy Oliver came under fire on Sunday after handing out TWO yellows to the same Brighton player without sending them off.

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Lucy Oliver handed out two yellow cards to the same player without sending them offCredit: Getty Images – Getty

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Brighton’s Kayleigh Green (right) was cautioned twice during the Seagull’s 2-2 draw with EvertonCredit: Getty Images – Getty

Oliver, the wife of Premier League ref Michael, cautioned Brighton forward Kayleigh Green twice during their 2-2 draw with Everton.
Toffees boss, Willie Kirk, told the BBC: “For a player to be booked twice and still be on the pitch is baffling. I think it’s only happened once in my lifetime.
“Everybody knew about it. The player knew. She was not wanting to go near the referee.
“Could the referee have done better? Yes. It’s frustrating the referee made that mistake.”

On Monday, the FA launched “Inspiring Positive Change” – a new women’s and girls’ four-year football strategy.
The plan outlines the aims to create “a pool of committed match officials delivering world-class performances within the women’s top-flight.”
The FA hopes its new strategy will “increase club satisfaction” in the top two divisions in the women’s game.
WSL clubs have often been left frustrated about the standard of officiating in the division.

Manchester United boss Casey Stoney has led the calls for full-time officials in the professional top-flight, where refs are currently part-time.
Baroness Sue Campbell, the FA Director of Women’s Football, admitted the new core group of referees will still not be professional, but that the issue remains a long-term aim.
She said: “Ultimately that will be where we get to but I don’t know what the time frame is.
“I think the people that we’ve got now, our top eight FIFA nominated women, will not be going full-time,
“But certainly through the scholarship programme, they will have significantly more time to focus on training and development than they’ve had in the past.
“Their lifestyles are very different. I’ve met them on a number of occasions and some are full-time mums, some have full-time jobs which are good jobs that they enjoy.
“We used to have a really large number of referees working Super League and Championship, we’ve narrowed that down to be a core group that we can put a lot more energy and effort into.
“I think it’s a bit unfair on them to say they’re lagging behind. They’re working just as hard as everybody else and they’re putting as much effort in.
“And to be fair Premier League referees are full time and they still get just as much criticism. It’s just a tough job, isn’t it? The end of the day, refereeing is a tough, tough gig.”

It isn’t bizarre, it’s absolutely abysmal and the referee should be reprimanded for this.Women’s officiating is not fit for purpose and really needs and overhaul. The officials at this level need to be to a higher quality than this. https://t.co/aBWTxA3x39
— Kay (@kaybhafc90) October 19, 2020

Campbell revealed the FA will now provide WSL and Championship referees with a coach to sit alongside the “match official evaluation scheme”.
The evaluation training was introduced into the women’s top-flight last year and is also used in the Premier League.
She added: “They (the referees) are under scrutiny. They are learning. They are an incredibly committed group of women.
“I have had the privilege of spending time with them. Everybody will make mistakes at times. They are learning from those.
“We are absolutely 100% committed to backing and supporting them as we move forward.”

Watch Arsenal ace Vivianne Miedema score incredible goal against Reading More

VIVIANNE MIEDEMA smashed the all-time scoring record for the Women’s Super League after hitingt a hat-trick against Tottenham.
The strike sensation took her tally to 52 goals in just 50 appearances.

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Vivianne Miedema broke the all-time goal scoring record with 52 goals in 50 appearances Credit: Getty Images – Getty

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The Dutch striker hit a hat-trick against Tottenham at BorehamwoodCredit: Getty Images – Getty

She stormed past the former record-holder, Nikita Parris, who found the net 49 times in 110 matches for Manchester City and Everton.
It took less than ten minutes for the 24-year-old to reach the half century, after she broke free and pounced on a through ball to slide a shot beyond Becky Spencer.
Fans have branded Miedema “ice-cold” in the past for not celebrating her goals – but there was no stopping the Dutch ace cracking a smile on Sunday.
She coolly hit a first-half hat-trick before making way for Lotte Wubben-Moy on 63 minutes.

Arsenal boss Joe Montemurro said: “We see from a football perspective week by week the contribution Viv makes as a footballer, but I’m blessed and lucky to be a part of her everyday scenario.
“She is an amazing person for the team and I’m blessed to have 23 players that work for each other.
“Viv is a part of that, off the ball she is also an amazing person.

“She wants to get better and challenge herself. I’m enjoying working with her, and as long as Viv is smiling we will keep seeing a better Viv.”

It was Katie McCabe who got Arsenal on their way, sending a stunning fourth minute free-kick dipping and curling into the top corner.
It was a goal that would have seen Gunners fans’ jaws hit the deck, had they been allowed into Borehamwood.
Very quickly the hosts established a dominance, they just needed another sniff on goal – that arrived from deadly Dutch striker Miedema who fired home.
But the visitors took the fight straight back to Arsenal.
And it took a world-class save from a leaping Manuela Zinsberger to tip a rocket from Rianna Dean over the bar.
The Gunners hit back again with Leah Williamson whipping a peach of a pass to Caitlin Foord who kept a cool head to tuck home.
But there was still time for Miedema to inflict more damage before the break.
The strike sensation was in acres of space as she latched on to a clever free-kick from McCabe and rifled into the roof of the net.
And she hit her hat-trick with a cool tap in, thanks to a slicing pass from Foord across the face of goal just before half-time.
Spurs were handed a life-line when referee Abigail Byrne pointed to the spot as Lucia Leon was mowed down by McCabe.
But they were handed a cruel blow when Zinsberger turned Dean’s penalty away.

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Hero keeper Manuela Zinsberger saved Rianna Dean’s penalty Credit: Getty Images – Getty

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Spurs haven’t won a single league game so far this seasonCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Arsenal clicked through the gears again and got a 64th minute reward as Foord’s low cross deflected off Ashleigh Neville and looped beyond Spencer to make it a rout.
Tottenham weren’t going down with a whimper and they nabbed a late consolation as a corner was whipped to Leon who rose highest to nod home.
USA superstar Alex Morgan was once again forced to wait for her debut.
She wrote on Twitter: “A small setback is keeping me from doing what I love. Can’t wait to get on the field with this team in the next few weeks. Literally can’t wait. ”
Spurs boss Juan Amoros said: “The first half was really negative, defensively, tactically technically we were poor – bad in every aspect but it’s credit to Arsenal. The second half there were many more positives.”

Watch Arsenal ace Vivianne Miedema score incredible goal against Reading More