Vivianne Miedema: Is former Arsenal striker Manchester Metropolis’s lacking hyperlink in WSL title cost?

All the time the bridesmaid. Manchester Metropolis have been Girls’s Tremendous League runners-up seven instances since 2015, greater than all different WSL groups mixed. They’ve made that relatively undesirable place considerably of a speciality. Enter Vivianne Miedema – the participant tasked with altering all that.

Focused because the lacking piece to Man Metropolis’s title-winning puzzle, it is hoped the Dutch star can show to be the difference-maker as Gareth Taylor’s aspect bid to go one higher than final season’s inevitable second-place end.

Miedema had a second knee surgical procedure earlier this yr after a devastating ACL rupture and continues to be getting again as much as full pace, however has been a delight to look at in pre-season, displaying glimpses of the Miedema of outdated.

Sunday twenty second September 11:30am


Kick off 12:30pm

It is no secret that Arsenal’s former main girl – she signed for Man Metropolis upon the expiry of her contract this summer time – scores targets by the bucket load. She is the WSL’s most prolific objective getter, netting 80 instances in 106 appearances, massively outperforming her 59.63 xG and averaging a objective each 102 minutes.

She has gained a number of Golden Boots. She has hit the again of the web 95 instances in 115 caps for the Netherlands. For context, that is 45 extra targets than male counterpart and Dutch document holder Robin van Persie.

Miedema was a prodigy. She was supplied her first skilled contract at 14 years of age. Her full senior debut got here lower than a yr later, taking part in for Heerenveen, in a marketing campaign the place she scored 10 targets regardless of ending backside of the Vrouwen Eredivisie.

Thought-about a type of generational varieties, she’s so influential that writers in her native Holland have created a comic book guide sequence based mostly on her achievements entitled Vivianne Voetbalt.

And but, regardless of such historic award and acclaim, this season looks like a pivotal one within the plight of a participant who has spoken candidly about shedding her love for soccer throughout an arduous highway to restoration from two knee surgical procedures. Admittedly her battle to achieve the identical heights is steeper than most.

The 28-year-old began simply eight league video games over the previous two WSL seasons, earlier than leaving the Gunners on a free switch. The transfer to a direct WSL rival – she turned down approaches from overseas to remain in England – could have left a bitter style within the mouth of people who as soon as adored her in purple and white, however Miedema insists she’s discovered “a new appreciation for football”. And that she was intent on avoiding the “easy option”.

Maybe inevitably, then, Metropolis start their marketing campaign to win a primary WSL title in 9 years on the Emirates in opposition to Arsenal this weekend, stay on Sky Sports activities. How sarcastically intriguing.

Essentially the most fascinating facet of this assembly, at this particular juncture, is how little we now have seen of Miedema in her new environment and subsequently how little Arsenal will know of her actions. Timing locations the ball in Metropolis’s courtroom.

How mystifyingly irritated will Arsenal boss Jonas Eidevall be that he has not acquired to see his former striker play a single minute of WSL soccer for Manchester Metropolis earlier than trying to plan a plan to cease her. The identical participant, however framed in a distinct mild, surrounded by completely different expertise and elegance, and tactical concepts about how and the place she would possibly rediscover her finest type.

For Miedema, although, there exists a way of renewal. The license to discover a clean canvass was – studying between the strains – the principle motivator. A contemporary begin, below the steering of a coach in Gareth Taylor that has a deep appreciation of a lot of her best strengths.

“She’s a box of frogs at times,” Taylor advised Sky Sports activities not too long ago. “She can be a challenge, but what you do have is a highly talented player who still has the best years in front of her. She creates things from nothing and we all know about her scoring ability. She’s one of those players that coaches in the game admire.”

What this transfer does for Metropolis, above all else, is provide versatility. Miedema’s intelligence and distinctive studying of the sport means she will be able to function because the central striker, or inside ahead, or false 9, or deeper 10, or pitch invader with the liberty to do what she desires. What issues most is she will be able to create, in numerous methods, from all of these positions. And that is earlier than you add Bunny Shaw to the equation. Solely two gamers have averaged 5 plus pictures per 90 since Shaw’s Metropolis debut in 2021 – Shaw herself, and new strike associate Miedema (5.3).

“The link up between her and Bunny is so dangerous, I see it in training,” goalkeeper Khiara Keating revealed in an unique chat with Sky Sports activities throughout pre-season. “We’re all looking forward to seeing that in the league. They will score so many goals, and that’ll equal happy days.” For Manchester Metropolis, maybe.

The rest of WSL golf equipment – these with out the embarrassment of riches Metropolis now boast – will presumably be much less enthusiastic concerning the prospect of the division’s all-time main scorer taking part in alongside final season’s Golden Boot winner. A partnership with devastating potential.

And the truth is, inside Metropolis’s ultra-fluid attack-heavy construction, nothing wanted reinventing. Lauren Hemp and Chloe Kelly will proceed to be the 2 deadliest wingers within the league. Jess Park and Yui Hasegawa will proceed to develop in prominence and effectiveness, dictating video games from midfield. And Shaw will bag masses extra targets.

The place Miedema suits in that system is one thing Taylor must decide, with out the method being too contrived. Metropolis’s established 4-3-3 doesn’t essentially lend itself to the addition of a ahead whose finest work is within the pockets of house behind a central striker. And the return of Jill Roord from harm poses a dilemma, too, albeit a pleasant one.

Miedema’s emergence will definitely present contemporary perspective. A brand new solution to shut the hole on champions Chelsea, who snatched the WSL crown from Metropolis’s grasp final season by advantage of objective distinction. Second place is solely not adequate. Metropolis should go for the kill.

Fortunately, this summer time, they’ve acquired some of the lethal round.

Watch Arsenal vs Manchester Metropolis stay on Sky Sports activities this Sunday; kick-off 12.30pm