Arsenal and England forward Beth Mead called her return to football “special” following 11 months of “torture” after sustaining a serious knee injury.
She came on in the 88th minute with Arsenal losing 1-0 before setting up Alessia Russo’s 94th-minute winner.
“I got a bit emotional running on the pitch but it is amazing to be back, so amazing,” said Mead.
“It’s been obviously a long, tough injury, but the fans here were incredible.”
Mead helped England win Euro 2022 last summer, earning the Golden Boot for top goalscorer and also claiming the Player of the Tournament award.
She was voted BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year and was runner-up in the 2022 Ballon d’Or. But she suffered a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in the 3-2 Women’s Super League loss to Manchester United at Emirates Stadium on 19 November.
Her injury meant she missed this summer’s Women’s World Cup, in which England reached the final.
In Sunday’s WSL match at the Emirates, a crowd of 35,829 saw Villa take the lead through Maz Pacheco’s first-half header, with Mead getting a standing ovation as she came on two minutes from the end of normal time.
Then, in 12 additional minutes, Arsenal equalised through Katie McCabe’s powerful strike from a tight angle before Mead set up Russo for the winning goal.
“That’s what I’m here to do, help the team as best I can and I hoped I wasn’t too rusty,” said Mead. “I got myself an assist to Alessia’s important goal so I’m happy with the job I’ve done.”
On recovering from her injury, Mead added: “It’s mentally and physically been torture throughout. It’s been a long one. I’ve had amazing teammates, fans, family, everyone around me, to get me through.
“That’s why you play, to feel as special as this, especially at the Emirates. It’s the place where I did my ACL so it’s nice to get this game out of the way and I’m looking forward to the rest of the season.”
Mead deserved ‘special moment’ – Eidevall
Arsenal boss Jonas Eidevall said Mead “deserved that reception”, calling it “a special moment”. He added: “Beth has worked so hard and had a really difficult year with the injury and her mum passing away.
“It’s been incredibly tough for her so [it’s] nice to see her on the pitch and seeing her able to perform straight away. You hoped, but you didn’t know that was going to happen.”
Asked how the club would manage Mead now, Eidevall said: “It’s not 15 minutes to then 90 minutes. We work closely with the medical team like we have been doing.
“We will continue to make the right decisions, not just take risks, and it’s really important we manage it. That does not end just because she had 15 minutes.”
Eidevall believed Mead’s decision to pass for Russo’s winning goal instead of shoot herself demonstrated her footballing intelligence.
“If Beth just takes a shot it is going to be blocked and that’s what makes her so special, she instead passes to Alessia and it’s a goal,” added the Swede.
‘Great to have you back’
Former England goalkeeper Rachel Brown-Finnis knows what it is like to have an ACL injury. Speaking on BBC One, she said: “An assist already for Beth Mead, fledgling minutes back from recovery from that anterior cruciate ligament injury, and a massive well done.
“I’ve been through ACL reconstructions. It’s an awful dark place mentally, physically, and if you get back to full fitness, full performance, I know what you’ve been through. Plaudits to you Beth. It’s great to have you back.”
On the winning goal, Brown-Finnis added: “Mead draws her player, slips it infield to Russo, who has the better option. Brilliant awareness from Mead and she did exceptionally well to recognise the situation.”
Ex-England defender Anita Asante felt Mead’s introduction lifted the home fans. “In the end the energy, you could feel it in the crowd and Beth had an impact,” she said.
“The super sub came in and made a difference, as did Stina Blackstenius as well, and we saw the quality in the final third when they are clinical as apposed to waiting for the ball to enter areas of the box.
“You could just see the reaction [from the fans] to her being back on the pitch, and what a lift that is for the team and for the supporters. We know what she can do. She’s shown again how impactful she can be to this team.”
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