Beth Mead: Arsenal through and through

How important have your team-mates been during all the highs and lows?

I’ve met people here that I’ll keep in touch with for life, like my best friend, Steph. I’ve known a lot of these girls for years: Leah, Kim, Katie, Caitlin. You go through a lot that people don’t see, both personally and as a footballer. I wouldn’t have got through some of those moments without them.

For my mum’s funeral, the full team showed up. That’s a special bond and a very special thing about this set of people. They didn’t have to do that, but they wanted to do what they could to support me and my family. What they’ve done for me on days where I’ve really struggled has been incredible. There are moments that I’ll cherish with these people forever. They are your family away from home and I’m very happy that I’ve had the chance to meet these people I love.

What has the support from our fanbase meant to you during those tough times?

The supporters are incredible and they can lift us up so much during matches, but they’ve also shown a lot of love off the pitch. Although we share a lot of our lives, some of it isn’t there to be seen, so just receiving that little bit of support and love from someone who doesn’t even know you goes a long, long way.

You never know what’s happening in anyone’s life. All you can do is show love and support regardless of what it looks like. I’m very much a person who believes that you support people in whatever way you can – whether it’s by actions, words or just from a distance. I think our fans have been amazing at that over the years, especially through the hard times I’ve been through.

Do you have a standout game across your years at Emirates Stadium?

Walking out at Emirates Stadium will never get old. That first game against Chelsea in 2021 is actually one of my favourite ever games. It was the start of our Emirates journey and we beat Chelsea, which was nice. There’s an amazing picture of me peeling off to the crowd when I scored. At the time, we were all like, “Wow, how many people are here?” You don’t forget those moments, but now to play there on a regular basis and to see how many people show up each week, it’s pretty incredible. They’re the best fans in the world.