Were you tempted to or approached to sign for anyone else when you came back?
Naturally, when I was moving back to England and deciding what I was doing, I had to look at a couple of options. But honestly, no.
What has been your favourite season at Arsenal since you returned?
It’s so hard to pick. The season we won the league under Joe Montemurro was a lot of fun. At times, our squad was fairly thin and sometimes we had two Academy players on the bench. We didn’t have the resources we have now and it was right before that stage of huge growth in women’s football. So we were really pushing for a more professional environment, but we had a great start to the season and a lot of fun on and off the pitch.
Then, of course, it’s last season when we won the Champions League. There were so many ups and downs, we did all that work to get there and the journey paid off.
I feel like I don’t really think about my career in seasons, but more in terms of the groups of people I played with. There’s a group of players who I’ve grown with – Leah, Beth, Katie, Jen, Wally, Steph. It doesn’t last forever, but to be playing alongside some of your closest friends, the whole experience is amazing.
What did it mean to win the Champions League? On a personal level and as captain of the club you’ve represented for so long?
I feel like it just made sense. That’s on a club level, but also as an individual who had been at Arsenal for so long, who had played the game for so long. We all question why we’re doing things and I know why I turn up every day. I’m getting to do what I love. But then to have that special run in the Champions League and then get the ultimate achievement in club football, the whole journey made sense.
I came to the club not long after we won it in 2007 and when you lose so many quarter-finals and semi-finals, it kind of hardens you. I’m not superstitious and I don’t think things are meant to be all the time, but this felt right. You don’t get those moments in life that often. Life doesn’t always make sense. But it did this time. When you’re chipping away, trying to be a good person, trying to work hard and show up for the team, those moments are very rewarding. That was my experience of winning the Champions League.
