There was a lot to like about Arsenal's win over Leicester City on Sunday. Despite concluding last season by stunning Barcelona to win the Champions League, the Gunners have been nowhere near their best at the start of this new campaign, suffering four successive defeats in all competition for the first time since January 2022. Unconvincing but vital wins against Brighton and Benfica allowed them to fight back before the international break and their return to action at the weekend, in a 4-1 victory over the Foxes, was much-improved.
Arsenal were more positive in the final third, provided better service to the long-starved Alessia Russo and showed real impetus and ruthlessness to kill the game off quickly, racing into a 3-0 lead before half-time. That they did it all despite a flurry of new absentees – with Olivia Smith, Frida Maanum, Lotte-Wubben-Moy and Kyra Cooney-Cross all missing – made it all the more impressive as the likes of Stina Blackstenius and Laia Codina stepped up in rare starts.
Though not as lesser-spotted as others, there was also an opportunity at the King Power Stadium for Beth Mead, who was arguably the Gunners' best performer on the day. The former Ballon d'Or runner-up has occupied the role of substitute more often than starter in recent times, for club and country, with her future in north London even in question over the summer. Over the course of the last couple of weeks, though, Mead has shown that she still has plenty to give as she comes into a strong vein of form that could really benefit an Arsenal team entering a vital run of fixtures.
Getty ImagesImportant difference-maker
Starting on the right, where she is best-suited, Mead caused plenty of problems for the Foxes on Sunday. It was her cross that led to the Gunners' opening goal after just seven minutes, converted clinically by Russo, and her perfectly-weighted pass that Blackstenius swept into the back of the net to make it 3-0.
Mead did plenty of the gritty stuff in this win, too. Winning eight ground duels and recovering possession three times in a performance that was as hard-working as it was eye-catching, this was a reminder of what the 30-year-old can do.
AdvertisementGetty ImagesHead of steam
It was a continuation from the international break, too, where Mead was afforded starts in both of England's fixtures as the absences of Lauren Hemp, Lauren James, Jess Park and Grace Clinton massively reduced Sarina Wiegman's options in the wide areas. Had the squad been fuller, the Lionesses boss would've likely rotated more, but instead Mead took full advantage of the opportunity to play 90 minutes in back-to-back games for just the second time in 2025.
In the defeat to Brazil that England kicked-off their October camp with, the Arsenal star was one of the few Lionesses to put in a decent performance, causing problems for the South American champions with her direct and positive approach. She completed no fewer than six key passes, won 11 of her 17 ground duels, delivered three accurate crosses from four attempts and completed three of her four dribbles, while also winning the penalty that Georgia Stanway converted to give England a chance of getting a result.
What stood out most was how often Mead drifted into central areas from her position on the right wing, picking up pockets in which she could receive the ball and hurt the opposition with the time and space she had. That continued a few days later against Australia, as she again created chances aplenty and showcased her footballing intelligence.
"She can play in the pocket really well," Wiegman noted when asked about Mead following the 3-0 win over the Matildas. "She finds pockets and she's intelligent in that. That's what I wanted her to do today, too. When they dropped and had a lower block, of course, you want to break down that block and you want to challenge them in decision making. We try to create overloads and she plays a big part in that."
Getty ImagesFalling out of favour
Things have not been easy for Mead in recent months. After Chloe Kelly joined Arsenal on loan from Manchester City at the end of January, the 30-year-old found herself on the bench on a more regular basis, starting only six of the Gunners' final 13 games of the season having been named to the line-up 13 times in the 20 fixtures prior to Kelly's first appearance back in the colours of her childhood club.
It's not just about the numbers, either, but also the occasions. In the Champions League quarter-final second leg, when Arsenal had to come from 2-0 down against Real Madrid; in the Champions League semi-final second leg, when the Gunners were out to overturn a 2-1 deficit in Lyon; and in the final of that competition, against all-conquering Barcelona, Slegers opted for Kelly over Mead in her starting XI.
She has had to endure similar disappointments with England, too. Mead started all five of the Lionesses' games prior to the 2025 European Championship, with an impressive return of three goals and two assists from those appearances. But after keeping her place for England's tournament opener, a 2-1 defeat to France, she lost it when Wiegman reshuffled to great effect.
Throw in the regular talk about her Arsenal future, amid very public interest from big-spending London City Lionesses, and it would make sense for Mead to look unsettled in her performances.
Getty ImagesStill making her mark
But that wasn't the case. Mead still produced three goals and three assists in those six starts after Kelly's Arsenal return, her most notable contribution coming off the bench in the Champions League final when she slipped Blackstenius through to net the title-winning strike.
At Euro 2025, the numbers don't quite do her impact justice, but Mead was incredibly influential as a substitute, bringing calmness and composure to the table when Wiegman turned to her during the Lionesses' run to a second successive continental crown. That came in different positions, too, be they out wide or more central.
Now, with back-to-back England starts followed by two in succession for Arsenal, Mead is showing that it's not just as a substitute that she can make telling contributions.