Arsenal face tough task vs unbeaten Man City… but I’ve even got Strictly partner Neil supporting them
ARSENAL will be aiming to get back on track when they welcome Manchester City tomorrow.
After the Gooners’ perfect start to the season was ruined at Chelsea, they must find a way to bounce back against the unbeaten table-toppers.
Defeats like that hurt but with games coming around so thick and fast the girls must quickly learn lessons.
They can’t dwell on it and feel sorry for themselves because that will affect their next match.
I remember going a whole season and a half with Arsenal when we were invincible.
But all winning streaks come to an end and it’s what comes next that really matters.
We all have blips in our lives but how you respond to those moments defines you as a player and as a team. Chelsea was always going to be tough because the rivalry is so strong.
And I have a lot of respect for their boss Emma Hayes, who’s been on the scene for a while.
Emma spent a lot of time with me when she was assistant at Arsenal.
I said to her at the time: “I want to be the best right-back.”
She replied: “OK we’re going to make you that.”
From then on she spent her time helping me work to get to that place.
Arsenal have got a tough job against City.
But they have to take confidence in the quality of their players.
They will respect the opposition, with the likes of Ellen White and Georgia Stanway both returning from injury.
But their own Vivianne Miedema is one to watch.
The forward hit four against Slavia Prague in the Champions League and has been nominated for the Ballon d’Or.
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Stanway, meanwhile, will pose a major threat for City.
Further down the table Anfield is gearing up to host its first-ever women’s Merseyside derby on November 17.
I’ve played there and it was special because the history and atmosphere are so well known.
When I played I don’t think we even got a crowd so to be hosting a derby match is huge.
The rivalry is massive and it’s becoming a trend in women’s football to play in the top stadiums.
You want to see these kinds of games with that much history played on the biggest stages.
It’s great for the sport and will hopefully give a boost to Liverpool who are second from bottom and without a league win so far.
On the other side of the world USA striker Alex Morgan announced she is pregnant.
She finished joint-top scorer at the World Cup and is one of the world’s most influential players.
Of course that’s going to be a huge loss for the USA Olympic team in Tokyo 2020.
But they will still be very strong because they have so many other great players to choose from.
I can’t speak for female players who have had babies because I haven’t gone through that.
But I know some who have and it’s sometimes a case of planning it around their schedule.
But sometimes nature takes its course and a player has to take time out unexpectedly before returning to the fold.
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That’s one thing the men don’t have to think about.
Even though Strictly is keeping me busy, I will watch the Arsenal game.
My dance partner Neil Jones is a Liverpool fan, but thanks to me he’ll be backing the Gooners too.