Watching Arsenal’s Mana Iwabuchi play, it is easy to see why she earned the nickname ‘Manadona’ during her teenage years.
Given her small stature and excellent ball control, comparisons with Argentina great Diego Maradona were easy for Japanese journalists to make, blown away by Iwabuchi’s swift rise.
Before she had turned 20, Iwabuchi had won the Women’s World Cup and a year later she claimed silver at the London Olympics.
Now the forward is back in London, but this time for good, after joining Arsenal last summer. She knows what it’s like to be a runner-up in this city and is determined for that not to be the case again as the Women’s Super League (WSL) hots up and the Champions League returns tonight when the Gunners host Wolfsburg.
“It was difficult to accept silver rather than gold,” Iwabuchi tells Standard Sport, reflecting on London 2012. “When I played in the Olympics I was only 19 and it was a great experience. Everything was really fun for me.
“It was a good experience and we got a silver medal, but it made me think I wanted to develop as a player and get better.”
Iwabuchi likes life in London and enjoys the “freedom” she has in the city, given how often she is recognised back home in Japan.
It has not been an easy move, though, not least because she is still learning English. The fact that she speaks German, thanks to three years with Bayern Munich, has helped with settling in to Arsenal’s squad.
Iwabuchi has also been aided by fellow Japanese player Takehiro Tomiyasu being in the same situation after joining Arsenal’s men’s team last summer.
“We go for meals together sometimes,” she says. “He is really super helpful and I like the fact I am able to speak to him in Japanese.
“It’s easy to talk in your own language and it makes you feel comfortable. We both help each other, we cheer for each other and understand each other more. It’s very helpful to have Tomi here.”
Iwabuchi has come a long way since those Maradona comparisons, forging a career in her own name by excelling in both Germany and England.
“Obviously Maradona was a superstar and known by everyone around the world,” she says. “Our style is maybe similar and it is flattering for me.
“It might sound a bit cliché but I am who I am, I am myself as well. It’s good to be recognised in this way, but I don’t take too much notice of it.”
People are taking notice of Iwabuchi and Arsenal, though. The Gunners have excelled under Jonas Eidevall this season and they face Wolfsburg in the first leg of their Women’s Champions League quarter-final tie tonight.
It is the first of two games at Emirates Stadium this week, with Arsenal also hosting north London rivals Tottenham on Sunday as they look to stay top of the WSL.
“We are striving to get both the Champions League and League title,” says Iwabuchi. “As a player there is nothing better than playing in great stadiums, so I am really excited about being at the Emirates.
“I expect Wolfsburg to play physical football. It is definitely not going to be a beautiful style of play. It will be aggressive and a lot of battles. We will just look to play our style of football, and try to win the game.”
And what about Tottenham? Over the course of this season they have developed from noisy neighbours to a side with aspirations of one day playing in the Women’s Champions League, as shown by their draw with Arsenal in November.
“I am personally not too familiar with the derby over here,” says Iwabuchi. “But obviously it is going to be a very big match.
“In the first game we got a draw late on, so this time we will definitely win in front of the fans. We want to show who is stronger.”
