- Beth Mead speaks about why she's enjoying football again
- The Gunners remain unbeaten under Renee Slegers
- Forward opens up about her future in the sport
Arsenal forward Beth Mead said she is enjoying football again as the Women's Super League (WSL) side continue their unbeaten run under interim head coach Renee Slegers.
The England international reflected on how she has found the transition in recent months as interim head coach Renee Slegers took charge of the Gunners ship following the resignation of Jonas Eidevall.
Speaking at Arsenal's Sobha Realty Training Centre, Mead described how the mood has been around camp.
"There is a lot of laughter at the moment," said Mead. "I think I played one of my best seasons just before the Euros and that was because I was happy and was having fun."
"You lose that sometimes in football because of how serious the game is now. But you start because you love it and that is what you need to get back sometimes, and then the performances come back better again."
Competition for a spot in the starting eleven has increased since Arsenal signed Mariona Caldentey over the summer. Caitlin Foord's impressive recent form has also meant that Mead has been forced to make a lot of her impact from the bench, something she described as healthy competition.
"The game is an ever evolving game, and as a player you have to be ever evolving," Mead expressed. "I back myself as a player. I have been training hard and well and I am trying to give Renee a headache.
"It is great in terms of the competition and it only makes us better as individuals. I don’t want to be sat on the bench, but it makes you better as a player and a person."
Mead has recently been undertaking her UEFA coaching licenses, with hopes to transition into the profession when her playing career draws to a close. "When you start doing your coaching badges alongside playing, you start looking at things differently," Mead expressed.
The 29-year-old opened up about how the training has helped her analyse the game differently, whilst also weighing in on why she thinks this makes Slegers so effective.
"You understand how the game is," said Mead. "Sometimes having that balance of playing and understanding how it is and the expectation on players and what the day-in and day-out looks for players. Understanding how it is to be a professional can give you an edge as a coach.
"Thinking about what my own philosophy might be as a coach and what I would want to implement comes from my playing career and the game. Finding out what players need and want and finding the balance between that and being good tactically, and personally, too. That's why Renee has had such a good effect on us so far."
