Home » “Why would I want to be anywhere else?”. Frida Maanum has signed a new contract with Arsenal

“Why would I want to be anywhere else?”. Frida Maanum has signed a new contract with Arsenal

FA WSL, Sports / By / / Arsenal

Frida Leonhardsen Maanum has signed a contract extension with Arsenal. Photo credit: Arsenal WFC


Arsenal fans received the perfect tonic to their 2-0 defeat to Aston Villa with the news that their Player of the Season, Frida Leonhardsen Maanum, has agreed to extend her stay at the club. It caps off remarkable season for the young Norwegian, whose stock at the club has risen considerably over the season after an indifferent start to life at Arsenal.

Frida arrived as part of a huge summer outlay in 2021 as Arsenal looked to arrest the slump in fortunes in the last 2 seasons of Joe Montemurro’s tenure. As it transpires, she was also the midfielder incoming manager Jonas Eidevall wanted to bring to the club, a beautiful coincidence where Arsenal’s transfer strategy and the Manager’s philosopher aligned perfectly. Sadly, the same could not be said for the rest of arrivals. 2021 was a poor window, and out of all the signings made, Frida is the only one who has been a success. The rest have either already departed or are waiting in the departure lounge.

Frida exhibited flashes of her talents during the first half of her debut season, as Jonas opted a midfield 3 of Little, Frida and Walti. However, in this iteration, it was Captain Kim who pushed furtherst forward, with Frida being utilised as a 6 alongside Lia. She scored her first WSL goal against Everton, a 25-yard pile-driver, but Arsenal’s midfield look laboured in this setup, and their form dipped as they headed into winter.

After a nightmare showing in a defeat at Birmingham in the new year, and the switch to move Viv into midfield to supply more creativity, a part of the ‘Vivstenius’ partnership, and having to therefore move Kim Little deeper, Frida lost her place, and left us wonder what part she would play in this Arsenal side.

This season, Frida has looked transformed, confident in her role, assured in how she plays. Jonas’ gamble to drop Miedema in favour of her, utilising her in the more advanced 10 instead of as a deep lying midfielder, at the home of the European Champions, proved to be a master stroke, and she has never looked back. Her barnstorming runs through the centre of the midfield have provoked terror in opposition defenders all season, and her strikes from the edge of the area have proved to be a potent weapon against low block defences. Against Man United, a burst from the halfway line split the defence wide open, and her strike helped get Arsenal back into the contest.

 

Sadly, in this instance, Arsenal weren’t able to get the win. But there have been plenty of other occasions where Frida’s intervention has led to Arsenal triumphs. A brace helped Arsenal overcome Aston Villa in the Continental Cup Quarter Finals. A superb individual effort against a stubborn Leicester City side secured a vital 3 points in their hunt for Europe.

And of course, who could forget her screamer against Bayern Munich to help kickstart Arsenal’s comeback in the Quarter Final.

Just as last season belonged to Beth Mead, this season belonged to Frida Leonhardsen Maanum. And Arsenal have needed her. As players have dropped out with injuries left, right and centre, Frida has thankfully managed to stay fit, and helped Arsenal secure the chance to qualify for Champions League football next season by the barest of margins. So strong has been her form, that it has meant that the previously indispensable Vivianne Miedema is no longer assured of her place once she returns from her ACL injury. Having a player of that quality breathing down Frida’s neck, fighting to win her place back in the side, should only inspire her to become even better. And she’ll have plenty more time now to do just that at The Arsenal having signed her contract extension.

Congratulations for an amazing season Frida! Here’s to plenty more years at the heart of our attack!

Adam Salter
+ posts

Check out some of our latest articles