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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Sophie Downey

Why did Arsenal let Vivianne Miedema leave on a free at 27?

Vivianne Miedema
Vivianne Miedema leaves Arsenal as the WSL’s all-time leading scorer. Photograph: Alex Pantling/The FA/Getty Images

“Miedema … still Miedema … magnificent Miedema.” A line of commentary that could be used to sum up most of Vivianne Miedema’s 125 goals in an Arsenal shirt. In her seven-year career in north London in which she appeared 172 times, the Dutch international has broken records left, right and centre, unstoppable on the pitch and a quiet, determined force off it.

In this instance, the commentator was describing a strike against Everton in 2022. Having turned Karen Holmgaard inside out, she instinctively unleashed her wand of a right foot to send the ball nestling into the back of the net. It was not the first time, nor the last, a defender would be undone in this fashion.

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