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Jodie Taylor recently joined Arsenal for a second spell at the club, signing until the end of the 2022/23 season.  The forward had previously played for the Gunners between 2016 and 2017.  Since then, she has played in Australia, the United States and France.  Taylor has also been capped 51 times and scored 19 goals for the Lionesses.  She left San Diego Wave in February after their first season in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL). 

Taylor came on to make her second debut for Arsenal in the 82nd minute of their recent 5-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur in the north London derby.  After that match, she spoke to the media.

Taylor was asked how surreal the last few weeks have been.  She answered by saying it has been a “very surreal and crazy 10 days” and that she was just “chilling in LA [like] a month ago”.  She added that anything can happen in football and you have to be ready for it, and that “I am absolutely thrilled to be here, so happy to be part of the team”.

She felt the North London derby felt like “a real football game” and said that she has been keeping an eye on the league since she left.  Taylor noted the Women’s Super League (WSL) has “gone from strength to strength each season, and it is great to see the growth of the game especially off the back of the Euros success”.

Taylor thinks Arsenal head coach Jonas Eidevall just wants her to play her game and settle in.  She added she only landed back in London 10 days ago so it “has been a crazy time”. She continued by saying that “however the team needs me, I am here for it and a great opportunity for me to come in back on home soil”.  Taylor noted she is still fit, healthy and capable of playing at this level, and she is there to help the team win trophies.

With it being the NWSL off-season, Taylor has been working with a personal coach.  She said she has been staying fit and this has involved doing “a lot of running, a lot of conditioning, a lot of gym, a lot of individual training and small group stuff”.  She mentioned it was about getting her body right and hopes what she has been doing has prepared her.

Taylor said she can use her experience and “pass it on to other players”.  She noted that she likes that role and got into the later stages of her career by “helping the young ones coming through”.  She added that she is a team player.  She continued by saying that “it is an important message for older players, it is not over till it’s over, and I am still going”.  Taylor finished by saying “I am happy to be here, really happy with how the squad have welcomed me”, and observed that she has played with Caitlin Foord and Steph Catley before and there are a handful of girls that are still with the Gunners from her previous time at the club.