“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.
Such is the nature of Miedema’s talent, it therefore came as a shock to many when Arsenal announced this week that she would be leaving at the end of her contract. It is understood that it was the club’s decision not the player’s and a new deal was never offered, a fact that has caused more than a few raised eyebrows.
The word “generational” is bandied around far too often in football but in Miedema’s case it is wholly accurate. She is a player who sees the pictures on the pitch five steps ahead of everyone else around her. Ever since she burst onto the scene with the Netherlands Under-17s, and even before that with Heerenveen where she signed her first professional contract at just 14, she has smashed through the ceilings set by those before her.
She became the all-time WSL top goalscorer in 2020 after just three years in the league and has held that record ever since, despite an almost 18-month absence through injury. She possesses the same accolade as the leading all-time Dutch goalscorer across both men’s and women’s senior teams with 95 goals for her country. She is about far more than her goals, however, with her work in the buildup equally as pivotal – she has registered 50 assists in her time with the Gunners.
Miedema was evidently at home at Arsenal. In 2022, she rejected offers from elsewhere to sign an extension. Off the pitch, she has driven standards, advocating for change and progress at the club. Among other things, she’s pushed for the women’s team to play more regularly at the Emirates; she has been strong on player welfare and spoken regularly about mental health. Miedema and Beth Mead filmed their lengthy recoveries from anterior cruciate ligament injuries for a documentary to push for more research and resource to be put into understanding, prevention and rehabilitation.
What, therefore, would cause the coach, Jonas Eidevall, and the club to let a player of her calibre leave for free? Yes, she has endured a stuttering comeback since rupturing her ACL in December 2022 and has not been able to get back on the field as rapidly as some of her teammates who have suffered the same injury. Nevertheless, the severity of that injury is notorious and recovery from it is unique to everyone. The majority of players need time return to their previous levels. At just 27, Miedema has plenty of that in the bank.
Unexpectedly, even before her injury, Eidevall struggled to fit Miedema into his system. Rather than trying to build his squad around her – which many a coach would do with a player of her ilk – the Arsenal manager has seemed reluctant to do so. After six months, he decided to shift her from a central striker to a No 10, preferring the more direct running of Stina Blackstenius. While Miedema no doubt has the attributes to be world class in that role, questions remain about why you would move arguably the most natural and prolific goalscorer in the league away from that area of the pitch.
In reality, the writing may have been on the wall for quite a while. What makes the situation more striking, however, is Arsenal’s apparent willingness to allow her contract to run out. Not only does it mean that she will move on for free, but potentially to a main rival.
The business of football has not traditionally been considered on the women’s side but return on investment is crucial. With the amounts of money flying around in recent transfer windows, they could have arguably expected a not insignificant sum even when taking Miedema’s recent fitness issues into consideration. In January, Manchester City paid £200,000 for 20-year-old Laura Blindkilde Brown, an undeniable but as yet unproven talent.
Chelsea paid £383,000 for Mayra Ramírez – again unquestionable in what she can offer but not yet near the level Miedema was at before her injury. Look to the USA and those sums only increase further. For women’s football to start to stand on its own two feet financially, clubs need to understand the assets they have at their disposal.
Time will only tell whether the decision to move on from Miedema is the correct one. Instinct says perhaps not. A packed Meadow Park will bid her a fond farewell on Saturday, her legion of fans unwavering in their support of a player who will go down as one of their greatest. For English football, the hope remains that she will continue to play in this country; that a final outing in what is essentially a dead rubber against Brighton will not be her last contribution to the WSL.
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