Frida Maanum has established herself as an indispensable asset for Arsenal Women this season, and her individual performances have kicked off the campaign with significant flair.
The Norwegian midfielder was on the scoresheet once more in the most recent match, netting the opening goal for the Gunners against Aston Villa.
However, her 10th-minute strike was ultimately insufficient for a win, as the Gunners conceded late, settling for a disappointing 1-1 draw.
This goal elevated her tally to three for the season, meaning she has found the back of the net in every Women’s Super League (WSL) fixture so far, with the sole exception being the nil-nil stalemate against Manchester United.
Such goal-scoring prowess has already placed her as joint-second on the WSL top goalscorers chart. A deeper dive into the metrics reveals her dominance: Maanum currently leads all WSL midfielders in both shots (5.45) and expected goals (1.25) per 90 minutes.
Maanum Reflects on Form and Fan Connection
Speaking to Arsenal media about her impressive beginning to the season, Maanum shared her positive outlook:
“I feel good, I feel in a good space, I feel like I have performed the way I want to and help the team, which is the most important thing.”
She also emphasized the crucial role of the supporters as the team prepares for their upcoming challenges:
“Like I said, we go again, we love to be here at Emirates Stadium with the fans and we always feel the support, which is brilliant. We need you guys, we always need you and we love to play in front of you here at the Emirates and we know you will be there in the away game against Manchester City next weekend.”
Carrying Momentum from Last Season
The dynamic midfielder appears poised to build directly on her superb form from the previous campaign. Last season, she amassed 13 goals and four assists across 42 appearances in all competitions for the Gunners.
Her crucial contributions extended to their journey in the Women’s Champions League, where she notched six goal involvements, a vital factor in “helping our Gunners to lift the Women’s Champions League trophy to become the Champions of Europe.”
As noted in her interview, the team must now quickly refocus and turn their attention to a demanding fixture against Manchester City next week. Maanum and Arsenal Women will be determined to rediscover their winning rhythm when they face City on Saturday.
