Straight from the academy

19.

*time jump to the game on Saturday against Reading*

I'm not starting this match but Jonas told me that he wants me to play a lot of it and that I'll probably come on at half time. Gio also isn't starting so after we've finished our warm up I sit down on the subs bench next to her ready for the game to begin.

Kim Little meets with the referee and the Reading captain in the centre circle and a few minutes later the game is under way.

KICK OFF : Arsenal vs Reading

3' GOAL 🟥 - Beth Mead

Beth made a run through the middle of reading defence and Kim played her in, timing the pass perfectly. Beth then was in on goal and undoubtedly slotted it home into the bottom left corner.

Gio and I jump up and cheer, as does the rest of the stadium. This was just the start we needed, and there's no stopping us now.

14' GOAL 🟥 - Vivianne Miedema

An inch perfect cross from Katie McCabe is finished off neatly with a towering header from Viv to give us out second in less than 15 minutes.

27' GOAL 🟥 - Stina Blackstenius

Just as Reading thought things were settling down, we storm into their box to cause absolute havoc. The initial shot by Frida Maanum is parried out by the keeper, but, unfortunately for her, the ball landed straight at Stina's feet. She was then able to easily slot it past the keeper who was still on the floor.

HALF TIME : Arsenal 3 - 0 Reading

Everyone walks back into the locker room and sits down, waiting for Jonas to deliver his half time talk. He walks into the room smiling.

"That was really good girls, a great first half. All I can ask is keep doing what your doing. Before we go again, I would like Gio to come on for Stina and also Ellie to come on for Beth. That's all girls, lets keep this momentum going."

We walk back out to the pitch and Gio and I take our bibs and jumpers off before we walk over to the assistant referee at the side of the pitch and get ready to come on just as Jonas promised. I suddenly get a chill down my spine and i can't tell if it's nervousness or excitement or both. I pull my skins over my hands and rub them together. Gio puts hands on my shoulders and rubs my arms to try and warm me up. The assistant ref holds up her board.

SUB : ➡️ 4 - Elenor Lewis
           ⬅️ 9 - Beth Mead

Beth walks over to me smiling, she gives me a quick hug and a wink before she walks over to Jonas and gets a drink. Gio squeezes my shoulders before I take my position on the pitch.

SUB : ➡️ 20 - Gio Queiroz
           ⬅️ 25 - Stina Blackstenius

I smile at Gio as she jogs onto the pitch and she smiles back at me. Then she kicks off the second half.

49' GOAL 🟥 - Gio Queiroz

I sprint down the wing with the ball at my feet, easily getting past 2 players. I lift my head up and spot Gio running to the back post, and I don't think anyone's seen her yet. I send the ball across the goal, shouting Gio's name so that she knows it's for her but also for other people to leave it as Frida is also in the box. Frida dummies the cross and moves out the way of it, so when Gio receives the ball she is in acres of space. She hits it first time and strikes it top bins, the keeper couldn't get anywhere near it. She runs over to the corner to celebrate and I follow her.

I jump into Gio's arms and wrap my legs around her. Then the rest of the team start piling in and congratulating and hugging her too. As we are walking away, I hold my hand out for Gio and we do our hand shake. I then wrap my arm around her as we walk back to our side of the pitch.

56' GOAL 🟥 - Elenor Lewis

I went on a solo run through the middle of the pitch, sprinting past defenders with ease. I ended up in a 1v1 situation with the keeper and she never stood a chance. I chip the ball over her head and all she can do is watch as the ball bounces into the back of the net. I run to the corner and punch the air as my team mates hug me from behind. Gio picks me up and hugs me and Leah just hugs me tightly, whispering something in my ear.
"so proud of you kid" she whispers. I grin at her and she keeps an arm wrapped around me as we walk off. Then we kick off for what seems like the billionth time this game.

The game settles down a little more, and we are just keeping possession and passing the ball around.

That's until about 25 minutes later Leah spots me making a run into Reading's box and plays a long ball to me. I take a touch and shift the ball onto my right foot. I strike through the ball with so much power that I almost fall over.

79' GOAL 🟥 - Elenor Lewis

The ball riffles into the net and yet again I run to the corner to celebrate as everyone congratulates me. Leah walks up to me and I high five her.
"that was all you, what a ball!" I say to her.
"the finish wasn't too bad yourself" she says smirking at me. I shrug my shoulders sarcastically.

We maintain possession for the last 20 or so minutes and eventually the game ends.

FULL TIME : Arsenal 6 - 0 Reading
-goal: mead, assist: little
-goal: miedema, assist: mccabe
-goal: blackstenius
-goal: quieroz, assist: lewis
-goal: lewis
-goal: lewis, assist: williamson