Ahead of Thursday’s match against Southampton, Lia Walti hosted a media roundtable to introduce our next opponent.
Our Swiss midfielder answered questions about the price of the Conti Cup competition, the culture created through our away supporters this season and what she does to expand and challenge herself six seasons after her stay.
Here’s what Lia had to say:
On his hot streak in aerial duels this season. . .
I knew that was probably one of the biggest weaknesses in my game, so I clearly tried to perfect the timing to attack the ball. I think in the last few games I’ve been very fortunate with my aerial duels. It’s definitely anything I can do. I need to keep improving, but it’s not my main goal in my education when it comes to improving my game.
about the growing culture of support, at home and away. . .
This season has been incredible. I think we’ve built something big here with Arsenal’s circle of family members over the last few years. I came here six seasons ago and I think we used to fill Meadow Park a little bit then, so it’s amazing to see how much it’s expanding and now other people are even coming to our games outside. I think we have sold out each and every ticket for every away game so far this season and that shows a lot about this club, what surrounds us and also that the club is also taking all the right measures to allow women’s football to expand.
It’s also one of the main reasons why I wanted to stay here, to be part of the club, because you feel, as a player, that women’s football has the highest priority here. I’m very pleased that all the fans can see it too and they should be there every weekend for us, no matter where we’re playing or who we’re playing against.
about the atmosphere created through our record crowds outside. . .
To be honest, it feels a bit like a game at home. In the game we played against Bristol, all I could hear were the Arsenal fans. They’re definitely very loud, so even when we play outside, we feel like we have an audience there. But it’s just wonderful for women’s football. Our generation was used to gambling in front of a few hundred people and now, almost every weekend, having a crowd like that is something that provides great flavor. in the field. It’s just amazing to celebrate with enthusiasts when we dial in and listen to them when they need us to dial even more.
It’s a lot more fun. I think the biggest difference we’ve had in our careers was COVID when we surely didn’t have enthusiasts. I don’t think any of us felt the same feeling we had with the enthusiasts – it was actually empty. It didn’t seem so vital when we were winning without the enthusiasts. So now to see everybody come back and the help helps keep growing, it’s just amazing. It doesn’t matter if it’s a home game or away.
if you think the number of groups in the WSL will be increased. . .
I think right now it’s probably a pretty smart amount of money because I think we need to have an interesting league and I think it’s necessary to have as many teams as possible competing against each other. I think this season you can see that. Both one and both, one and both teams, really have the possibility of taking advantage of the problems of the more sensible groups, so the hole gets smaller and smaller. I think maybe the league will be in a position to have more groups in a few years because women’s football is growing. Many teams in all current divisions of one and both countries in Europe are getting bigger and bigger.
So I hope to see other groups in the future, but I think right now what we have is wonderful. I think the quality is wonderful, so it’s actually fun and at all times we have to be at our highest point to win. each and every team. It’s clear that Southampton will be a vital game for us. We need to get to the next round of the Conti Cup. We need to protect the trophy we won last season. We take this opponent very seriously and have noticed a lot of clever clips to analyze it. We clearly saw where his strengths lie. Lying, but at the same time we need to master this game. We need to be in this game and win it in front of a wonderful crowd and that’s what we’re after.
On his decision to go to the club last summer. . .
It’s no secret. I’m normally a pretty unwavering person at the club, so if I feel at home, I don’t need to leave. I think from day one at Arsenal I felt it was a position I could believe in for many, many years. to come. But of course, at my age, there was a resolution to be made last season. There were definitely other features but at the same time, I knew what I had here and I might just feel the expansion of the game, not only in the league but also in the club.
I feel new demanding situations every day within the club with new teammates; This season is perhaps the best example of that. We have a wonderful war in midfield with so many talented players and other types. So it’s any situation that requires demanding situations. me and each and every one of those around me. I think maybe it’s a game because with Arsenal I can continue to expand my game. But definitely, the expansion of the game and the club with the feminine comforts that we have here, just each and every thing here, you just need to be a component of it and I didn’t need to miss anything here because I do. I think there’s more potential. Here at Arsenal there are the right people to take the next steps. I think the fan base is notoriously huge.
There are big leagues in Europe and outside of Europe, it can be wonderful to play in one day, but at the same time you have such big stadiums and such big crowds every weekend. It’s something I’ve worked for. total career and, despite everything, I have it now. I feel like there’s nothing else I can update if I stay here and have those reports week after week. So I think it was a very simple resolution for me because it’s what I looked for and dreamed of when I was a child.
about what it would mean for the Conti Cup. . .
I think it’s a vital issue. We saw it last season. When you play a final against Chelsea in front of so many people, it doesn’t matter what trophy it is. A trophy is a trophy. At Arsenal we are here to win trophies. We might not have won as many trophies as we were looking for in recent years, but the Conti Cup has been one of them.
We take it as seriously as any other competition. We need to get to the next round and that’s where we’ll go to go through to tomorrow’s game. We just need to win this game and take the next step to be in a wonderful position. for the upcoming match against Spurs.
in the event that Beth and Viv return to our team and their respective national teams. . .
First of all, it’s amazing to see them again. They’ve been wonderful players for us for many years and for them it was clearly a difficult time last year when it happened at the same time and they had to go through that rehabilitation. I think most of our women know what it feels like and they’ve done it right. They held out for nine months and came back very strong.
So, I think it’s very deserved that Beth has been called up to the national team. You can see with each workout that she’s slowly finding her way back to the more productive version of herself. Obviously, we all know that. It takes a little time, but he’s patient. He’s doing great. She’s running strong and I’m satisfied for her because now she has the small tip of the iceberg to be in the national team again.
The same clearly goes for Viv – she’s been a very important player for us in the past and to have her back is wonderful for the intensity of the team at the moment. For her, it’s about gaining minutes and finding her rhythm. . I think she’s a little behind schedule because she had surgery a few weeks later than Beth, but she’s locating her rhythm. You’ll get more minutes in the coming weeks. I’m sure they’ll help us more and more every week. It’s wonderful to have players like them back because they can have a huge impact on the team.
MEN
WOMAN
ACADEMY
CLUB
MEN
WOMAN
ACADEMY
ALL
MEN
HANDCUFFS
UNDER 21
UNDER 19 YEARS OLD
MINORS UNDER 18 YEARS OF AGE
MEN
HANDCUFFS
ACADEMY
Always be ahead of the game
Explore our Help Center to get answers to common questions.
For all requests, please use our new request form.
Website ratings? Fill out our form
Report abuse and discrimination here
Check out our desktop and mobile wallpapers today!