No one would have believed, in the last days of the 2021-22 season, that Jen Beattie would still be at Arsenal, one year on, providing a crucial role at the heart of our defence.
No one could have dreamed we would find ourselves relying on Jen Beattie to see out the season, as players left and right succumbed to major injuries. Few fans even considered her able to last 90 minutes, and yet, across the course of the second half of the season, she became a rock that held that patchwork back 3 together, as Arsenal dragged themselves over the finish line.
Cue Jeff Wayne’s ‘War of the Worlds’.
Arsenal has officially confirmed that defender Jen Beattie has signed a new contract with the club. Jen’s presence proved invaluable for Arsenal in the previous season, as she made significant contributions both on and off the field. Her exceptional performance played a pivotal role in Arsenal’s triumphant campaign in the FA Women’s Continental Tyres League Cup and their impressive journey to the semi-finals of the UEFA Women’s Champions League. Moreover, her contributions were instrumental in securing qualification for the upcoming 2023/24 edition of the tournament.
Beyond her on-field contributions, Jen also worked closely with Arsenal’s commercial and partnerships teams and took on a mentoring role with the academy players last season. In the upcoming season, she will continue to collaborate across various areas of the club. Additionally, she will assume increased responsibilities within the football department as Performance Lifestyle Lead.
“I’m thrilled to have signed a new contract. I am genuinely happy here and have a deep affection for the club. The camaraderie within the group, including the players and staff, is fantastic. Witnessing the club’s progress over the past few seasons has been truly inspiring, and winning a trophy and experiencing team success last season was incredible. I eagerly anticipate what we can accomplish together in the coming year.”
– Jen Beattie
Jen Beattie’s presence at Arsenal, continuing to demonstrate her vital role in the heart of the defensive machine and playing a critical part in Arsenal’s UWCL and WSL campaigns, is truly remarkable. It’s hard to believe that just a year ago, her career seemed to be dwindling. Nevertheless, extending her contract for another season not only appears logical but also completely justified.
Head Coach Jonas Eidevall commended Jen’s professionalism and expressed his delight at her continued presence in the squad.
“Jen is a role model professional, and I am thrilled that she will remain a part of our squad for the next season. Her outstanding contributions on and off the pitch last year were commendable. Whenever called upon, she stepped up and set a remarkable example for others to follow. It is an honor to coach her, and I am confident that our supporters will join me in celebrating the news of Jen’s continued commitment to Arsenal.”
– Jonas Eidevall
JENNIFER BEATTIE LEVELS IT FOR ARSENAL 💥#UWCL LIVE NOW ⬇️
🇬🇧 https://t.co/KODI5SW6Zn
🇩🇪 https://t.co/sRzmGRnESd pic.twitter.com/UWTWcCbaWJ— DAZN Football (@DAZNFootball) May 1, 2023
Jen Beattie’s Crucial Role at Arsenal
The 2021-22 season proved to be challenging for Jen Beattie. She began as a starter alongside Leah Williamson but faced significant difficulties after Leah suffered a hamstring injury during the Spurs match. Playing alongside the inexperienced Lotte Wubben-Moy, Beattie struggled during the torrid FA Cup Final defeat against Chelsea and was at fault for Barcelona’s opening goal in a 4-0 loss at Emirates Stadium. Arsenal’s exit from the Conti Cup to Manchester United, due to a late set piece, saw Beattie conceding the free kick in a desperate attempt to prevent a late counter by fouling Russo. As the season neared its end, Beattie found herself relegated to the fourth-choice centre-back position, just ahead of Simone Boye, as Leah returned, Rafaelle arrived, and Lotte improved her form. It seemed uncertain what impact, if any, Beattie would have on the team moving forward.
Instead of leaving the club, Beattie made the surprising decision to stay, signing on for another year. She divided her time between playing with the team and working with the club’s academy and commercial departments. Although this arrangement was unique, it allowed her to pursue her post-football career by sharing her extensive experience with the next generation while being available to assist the team when needed. Little did anyone know at the time how heavily the team would rely on her.
Initially, her role primarily involved being a closer, brought on to bolster the defensive line and fast results, much like Rob Holding. However, a disaster was waiting to unfold. Arsenal faced an injury crisis throughout the season, with Leah and Rafaelle out until Christmas, Kim Little injuring her MCL, and Miedema and Mead both suffering ACL ruptures. When Kim was ruled out for the entire season after limping off against Bayern Munich, and Leah later ruptured her ACL, Arsenal found themselves severely short-staffed in all areas. To counter these deficiencies, Jonas switched to a back three formation. Consequently, just a few weeks later, during the Champions League Semi-Final against Wolfsburg, Jen Beattie found herself in the heart of the defense, playing for a full 120 minutes as Arsenal battled Wolfsburg for the opportunity to face Barcelona in the Final.
A Season of Triumphs: Jen Beattie’s Contributions to Arsenal’s Success
The performance of both the team and Beattie during that match was nothing short of heroic. In a reminiscent fashion of the Arsenal Men’s 2017 FA Cup Final, Jen channelled the spirit of Per Mertesacker, brilliantly marshalling the backline. While a back four seemed to expose Beattie’s weaknesses, the back three played to her strengths, allowing her to dominate aerial battles and benefiting from the numerical advantage to avoid being exposed in one-on-one situations. And then came the highlight of her season. With Arsenal trailing 2-1, Beattie was pushed forward as an auxiliary forward, harking back to her initial spell at Arsenal. When Wubben-Moy delivered a cross into the box, it was Beattie who rose above everyone else to nod home the equalizer.
Unfortunately, the equalizer proved insufficient. Fatigue plagued the team during extra time, and Beattie spent the remainder of the game battling cramps. A late mental lapse from Lotte Wubben-Moy resulted in Arsenal conceding the decisive goal in the dying moments. Nonetheless, it was a brilliant performance, particularly from Beattie, who had barely featured throughout the season. As the season concluded, her importance grew even more apparent. With Rafaelle’s departure, Leah’s injury, and uncertainty surrounding Anna Patten’s future, Arsenal found themselves with only one available centre-back, Lotte Wubben-Moy.
The Last Dance
While players like Steph Catley and Lia Walti could fill in, doing so would deprive Arsenal of their abilities in their preferred positions. Efforts were being made in the transfer window to address the situation, but there were no guarantees to be found there. Hence, it makes sense to retain Jen Beattie for at least one more season to navigate this problematic defensive scenario. Although Jen’s time at the club is likely to conclude soon, she has earned the right to one final dance, and Arsenal has wisely provided her with that opportunity.
Written by Adam Salter and Unnati Naidu
To read more articles, click here
Follow Sporting Her on social media: Instagram // Twitter // Facebook // Youtube
Doctor, Photographer and Journalist ready to take on the world.
