Beth Mead asserts Arsenal Women’s ambition to outshine Chelsea in the WSL, citing their Champions League triumph as evidence of their potential. Mead’s commitment to Arsenal remains strong, focusing on her role under coach Renée Slegers. She highlights the squad’s unity and the importance of every player, even non-starters, in achieving success. Recalling their Champions League final victory, Mead emphasizes the team’s adaptability and tactical approach. Looking ahead, Arsenal aims to secure all available trophies, fueled by their recent European success.
Beth Mead, a key player for Arsenal Women, has declared her team's ambition to surpass Chelsea in the Women's Super League (WSL), despite acknowledging the Blues' clinical efficiency. In a recent interview, Mead emphasized Arsenal's potential for superior football, highlighting their Champions League victory over Barcelona as a testament to their capabilities.
“It’s a tough club to walk away from,” Mead said, reflecting on her commitment to Arsenal. After a whirlwind of transfer speculation, she's entering her ninth season with the Gunners, a testament to her dedication and belief in the club's vision. With a year left on her contract, Mead is determined to prove her worth and contribute to the team's success, both on and off the pitch.
Arsenal's upcoming season opener at the Emirates Stadium is set to be a landmark event, with record-breaking ticket sales indicating the growing support for women's football. However, the team is also dealing with the emotional departure of midfielder Lia Wälti. Mead confessed she was avoiding watching Wälti's farewell video, a sign of the close bond within the squad. "The thought of leaving is really, really tough," she admitted.
Under head coach Renée Slegers, Mead feels confident about her role and contribution to the team. She understands the competitive environment and is prepared to make an impact whenever called upon. "I know where I stand, what she wants from me and what I can give the team," Mead said. "I know I can also give a lot to the team off the pitch and I take that role and responsibility quite seriously.”
Looking back, Mead acknowledges the challenges she faced after returning from an ACL injury that sidelined her from the 2023 World Cup. Despite the setbacks, she found her form during the previous season's run-in and the Euro 2025 campaign. She credits her "football brain and footballing ability" for helping the team in critical moments.
Reflecting on the Euro 2025, Mead recounted a conversation with Sarina Wiegman, the England coach, who praised her impact on the team despite not starting every game. Wiegman highlighted Mead's versatility and the crucial role she played in various positions. "That gave me a really nice warm feeling because, as a footballer, and my teammates appreciate this too, sometimes externally these things are missed,” Mead explained.
Mead emphasized the importance of every squad member, highlighting how the non-starters played a key role in preparing for the Champions League final against Barcelona. In a training session before the final, Mead role-played as Barcelona's Clàudia Pina, pushing Arsenal's starting team to their limits. "What we did in that training session changed our mindset going into the game," Mead revealed.
"How successful I had been on that side of the pitch as Pina arguably helped us win that game and is why I felt so comfortable going into the Barcelona final. We knew we’d ticked off everything, knew we’d exploited Arsenal’s weaknesses the day before and gone: ‘Do you know what? Barcelona are going to have a field day there if we don’t sort that out.’ We sorted it out, we all committed to our roles, and the rest is history.”
Mead also touched on the psychological boost of winning the Champions League, which she believes will be crucial in challenging Chelsea's domestic dominance. While acknowledging Chelsea's effectiveness, Mead believes Arsenal can play a more attractive brand of football. "We can, arguably, play better football than Chelsea and we did a lot of times last season,” she said. "We play the Arsenal way, but also when it’s not going perfectly we have to find another way we can win games. Barcelona was the perfect example for us.”
With the new season approaching, Arsenal's goals remain ambitious. "Try and win all four," Mead declared, referring to the available trophies. "We’re the only team to have done it, and let’s try and keep it that way.”