Taylor Hinds had a successful international break with the Lionesses, starting both of their FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifiers.
The European champions beat Ukraine 6-1 in Turkey before putting two past Iceland without reply in Nottingham last week.
Our defender was back at the Sobha Realty Training Centre on Wednesday to reflect on her international commitments.
“It was a great experience, obviously I’m going into camps just trying to improve and take in the experience at the minute, and really trying to push myself, and when my opportunity comes, I’m just trying to take it,” she said.
“A lot of the England teammates, I’ve grown up with them, so it’s really nice to have people that you’re friends with and that you know of and that make you more comfortable to be in that environment.”
Those wins left the Lionesses top of Group C, level on points with Spain, who they face in April, with our English Gunners set to go head-to-head with Mariona Caldentey and Laia Codina.
“That’ll obviously be a difficult game,” Hinds added. “It’ll be a test and we’re ready for it and we’ll prepare well for it. Obviously it’ll be nice to compete against the girls as well, but we’ll be ready and I think we’re all looking forward to it.”
Hinds only made her senior debut for England back in October, so there’s still a sense of novelty and pride when pulling on the shirt, she explained.
“It still just fills me with pride and a lot of honour and to see my family in the stands. Against Iceland, they had a lot of family there as well, so to play and put on the shirt and to play for them and in front of them, it meant everything to me.
“I think sometimes it still feels a bit surreal you know, when you see a picture of yourself and you’re wearing that shirt and even just when I’m putting on the shirt, it just fills me with pride.
“My mum and dad are always at every game and then my wider family were there against Iceland, so it was really nice to see everyone in the stands.”
Turning attention back to club football, we travel to Bromley this weekend to take on London City Lionesses in the Barclays Women’s Super League, representing our first topflight visit to the Copperjax Community Stadium.
“We’re very confident,” Hinds said. “I think everyone’s had a successful time away at their international teams and the game at the weekend is a sellout as well, which is great for them and great for us as well, playing in that atmosphere, so yes we’re all looking forward to it and I think we can’t wait to get back to league games.
“I think they’ve got some top class players and a few players that are very experienced as well, not just in this league but in other leagues and on an international basis, so yes I can see how they’ve done well, but for us we just like to focus on ourselves and on putting a solid performance in and trying to come away with a few points.”
It was against London City that Hinds made her WSL debut for us at the start of the season, coming on as a substitute at Emirates Stadium and experiencing what it’s like to play in front of our fantastic supporters.
“The first time, that was an unbelievable feeling,” she recalled. “I think you know every time we get to play there it’s a great opportunity and it’s just a great feeling to feel as a whole and as one club.
“The fans are amazing week in week out, whether it’s at the Emirates, at Borehamwood or away, they’re always there and I know it’s the cliche saying of the twelfth player, but they really are. You can hear them and they’re always there, so yes it was a great feeling and a great atmosphere to play in.”
“Everything has improved. It’s attractive to see that when you’re looking for a new club.”
There’s plenty to look forward to beyond this weekend as well, with UEFA Women’s Champions League and Adobe Women’s FA Cup quarter-finals against Chelsea and Brighton & Hove Albion respectively on the horizon, not to mention a north London derby and a return to Anfield for Hinds.
“I think we’re really excited,” she said. “It’s a big month coming up and we’ve got all to play for with the Champions League and FA Cup so we just want to win trophies and that’s the aim. That’s why I came to this club in the first place – to win trophies – and hopefully we can do that and I think we can if we just keep putting those performances in and keep playing well.
“It felt nice to win the Champions Cup and especially making history with winning that as well, so that was a great experience and really that just put the eagerness into us wanting to win more, and I think you can see that in the team and especially in the last month, we had the performances and the results that we came away with.”
So how does Hinds reflect on her first season back at Arsenal, settling back into these surroundings, and how much has women’s football changed since she was here in the Centre of Excellence over a decade ago?
“It’s amazing to be back,” she said. “There are a lot of changes obviously but you know I’ve seen the club where it was and where it is now and it’s amazing to see how far it’s progressed, and not just the club, but the teams and the coaches, everything has really improved and it’s attractive to see that and very attractive when you’re looking at moving to a new club and you have all that as well. It’s been amazing to be back and I’m just looking forward to finishing off the season on a high.
“It’s different and especially our building. Everything’s changed a lot, so yes I think the first day that I came before I was signing was a weird feeling, you know, being back and the last time I was here I was a little kid, so it’s great.
“I think me and Chloe have been in the same team a few times, so it’s obviously nice to be back with Chloe and Leah as well and obviously Lotte, I grew up with her as well, so it’s really nice to have that.”
It’s been a big change coming from Liverpool, playing in more competitions and spending more time travelling, so how has Hinds adjusted to that and what does she like to do with her down time when it does come?
“I think the main change is having more games and you’ve got to prepare for that and, in terms of how you prepare for that, you’ve got to be 100% for every game,” she explained. “To be in more competitions and to compete in the Champions League and to compete against the top players as well, it’s been a big change but I’m thriving off of it and I’m loving it.
“It can be tiring, so when you have a day off sometimes you really want to switch off, so sometimes I’ll just chill at home with my dog, take him for walks or sometimes just get coffee and brunch with the girls. I’m a big brunch fan! I think it’s just trying to manage that and manage when I can actually rest and when I want to go out and go shopping or something like that.”
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