Interview with Taylor Hinds, Chloe Kelly and Olivia Smith ahead of new WSL season

Ahead of the new WSL season, a few of us had the chance to chat with new Gunners signings Olivia Smith, Chloe Kelly and Taylor Hinds. This is a transcript of the roundtable, the first three questions (one to each player) are from Arseblog News.

Taylor Hinds: Renee and I had a few discussions and Renee likes versatility, so everyone in the team doesn’t just have one position. Everyone can play in multiple positions and I think that’s what’s amazing about this team is that you have options everywhere. I’m here to compete and the girls that are in those positions now have performed brilliantly, but I’m excited to play wherever, as long as it’s on the pitch.

Chloe Kelly: I think that’s the beauty of football sometimes everyone having so many ideas and coming collectively to have one and we all have the same goal to win, but when your ideas come together we can do great things. But I think it’s always a two way communication between the staff and the players, not just Renee, but all the background staff and coaches. In sessions, we’re getting the best out of each other, but also in gameplan and how can we break a team down. The conversations are definitely two way and coach led, but of course, but it is great to be part of and of course, to be successful with as well.

Olivia Smith: I think at the end of the day the price is the price, it’s not really something I’m focussed on. I’m just focussed on being on the pitch, learning from a great set of players and I think it’s also great to see the development of women’s football and that price going up as well. So, you know, honestly, it’s an honour to achieve that as well. I’m just in the present with the girls on the pitch.

CK (on memories from the Champions League Final): Caitlin’s block was one, there were many from centre half, the midfield putting in challenges, the press from the front. I think that gave us a lot of confidence as the went on. We built momentum not only with the ball but off the ball as well and that was so good to see. When Caitlin gets up and celebrates that tackle, I think that then gives the whole team a little bit more confidence and a little bit more drive and we feel really together in that moment. And when you’ve got a winger making that block in the box I think that then sets a tone for the whole team and we really feed off that moment and we can really build on that moment. Sometimes without the ball can be just as impactful for us when you’ve got the ball. Some amazing memories from the final, but some learnings as well that without the ball we can actually build confidence and build momentum and stick together and work the game plan.

TH (on watching the UWCL Final): I was in Barcelona! I was with my boyfriend on holiday, but I made sure to go back to the hotel room and we watched it and it was amazing to see. It was a bit of a roller coaster of a game. I’ve always had a soft spot for Arsenal from growing up here, so I’m hoping the girls do well and they did and they proved everyone wrong. I was delighted for them.

OS: I remember watching it, but I don’t remember exactly where I was. But it was an amazing game. I can tell you I was on the edge of my seat the whole time. It was quite stressful for me, and I wasn’t even on the pitch. But it was an amazing performance by the girls and I think watching it from a screen you can just see the motivation and the drive and the hunger and I knew that was something that I wanted to be a part of as well. So I think that was also a massive driving factor, just looking at their mentality and what they’ve achieved in the Champions League, getting hold of that trophy, is only something that I want to be a part of.

Pre-season is the time where you gotta really put your head down to work. So it’s definitely been a challenge in that sense. New environment, different standards, a great quality of players all around me getting to learn. It’s cool just to be around the players are coming back from the Euro as the champions of Europe. I’m really excited and it’s been going pretty well so far.

TH (on returning to the club having come through the academy): It’s an amazing feeling and everyone’s journey is so different, and for us, we had to take that journey away from here, which is absolutely fine. We were enjoying our journey and to be back, when you first start having conversations, it’s like, I could be back where all like started. But the hard work doesn’t stop, it still continues and you have to to be with an amazing group of girls like this.

CK: It’s always nice to come back to a club that you grew up playing in the Academy and experiencing first team football where your journey goes different ways but it always comes back home and it’s nice to be back here at this time. It feels like not much has changed, but so much has also changed. Arsenal have been driving women’s football for so long now and to be back here is an incredible feeling and we’re excited to win trophies at this club.

OS (on the two games she played against Arsenal in March): That first game (in the FA Cup) is definitely a lot of fun. I think I really got to express myself there. And then second game comes along, I think they kind of know what I like to do, so shut me down immediately. Especially being in the Emirates was a massive difference, and to have the fan base that they do have behind them is so daunting for the opponent. I can definitely tell you in training it’s still quite similar to the second game. But it’s great it only helps me to get better.

CK (on what is the same and what is different compared to her first spell at Arsenal): One that feels a bit different is obviously the same driving standards and the winning mentality that is instilled in this club. But the environment, of course, is also different in different players, different staff members, but some of the same as well in Leah, Katie, Beth, Lotte. So there’s a lot that has changed, but the fundamentals of the club and the drive that is within the club is still the same, which is amazing to be part of and we’re proud to be part of.

TH: I was young so when I couldn’t drive so I used to get the train and Leah used to pick me up. But that just shows what kind of a person she is. With all the girls being away, it’s been gradual. All the girls coming back so now all the girls that used to play with are back. It’s a weird feeling because I was so young and now I’m growing, I’m more mature as well so it’s different but it’s a nice environment and I think it’s just nice that you already know a few people and obviously a group like Lotte as well.

Football is our life, so outside of it there was moving away, but I’m closer to my family home now, so that’s also nice. I’m enjoying it, me, my dog as well, living here, and I think football does take over a lot of your time so there’s new things that I’m learning, new coffee shops that I’m going to be going to and some good hair and beauty spots as well.

CK: When you put pen to paper permanently, selling your house up north, moving down south, I had to do that and hopefully I can be more settled. It’s obviously nice that my family are not so far away, being in London, that’s so special to me, but I was on the motorway getting my stuff back down here a lot.

I think 2022 was a whirlwind of emotions, coming back from my ACL just before the tournament and having such a high in 22 of the Euros and then not really knowing what to expect coming out of that tournament. This time, I’ve just spent loads of time with my family, which is special to me and being able to switch off completely from the game and social media and just focus on myself and what I need to keep going.

OS: I think it’s definitely an honour, especially coming from Liverpool for such a hefty price tag for such a young player like me. I think they see the potential that I have, and they see my mindset. I’m hungry, I’m driven, I want to learn, I want to grow and I want to win things, ultimately. And I think that was a big piece. With the money, it’s not really a big deal for me. I think just more being around these girls and learning and growing in this environment.

I definitely think it’s not comfortable, but you have to be comfortable being uncomfortable. And it’s been quite tough for me personally not knowing what’s going to come next. Like my first season at Liverpool I never expected to leave after one season, especially last season, only having one season in such, I think the best league in the world and then coming here. So certainly not easy, especially with my family so far away, but it does make transitions easier. Building relationships with people here, at Liverpool, I built great relationships and now coming here, building great relationships and all the girls have been great in transitioning me here.

If I’m comparing to Canada, it’s actually quite similar here. But if I’m comparing to Portugal, the weather. I felt like I was on vacation most of the season. The weather was great! I think a big difference is just the quality in football. You don’t really see this kind of quality in Canada all around or in Portugal all around.

But I learned different things. Obviously, like with the national team, for example, learning from the older players, like Christine Sinclair, who was a big mentor for me in the national team. And then going to Portugal to try and build my IQ and technical skill, which is kind of what those teams are known for. And then coming here to improve my physicality, strength, and all that stuff. So not too much of a difference, but we’re comparing Portugal to England, just the weather.

I’m very versatile, and I’ve spoken to Renee about this. I just want to be on the pitch. But at the same time, I’m competing with the best players in the world. So we’re just pushing each other to be better every day. And I’m learning from them as well to add to my game. So at the end of the day, it’s up to Renee, based on performance. But I’m working hard, giving it 100%. And again, just still learning and growing.

CK: Definitely not hard to get going again. I think you just want to go again straight away. We’ve got competitions to win this season that we’re so hungry for, but I think once you taste success, you just want more of it and we’ll continue to do that. I think for me, I just want to win everything possible. So my eyes are set high this season for this club, and of course with England in future tournaments as well.

I think it’s good just to switch off sometimes. It’s what your body needs, it’s what your mind needs and really enjoying the moment, enjoying the moment with your family and your friends and switching off is really important. So for me, that’s what I do and try to switch off completely.

TH: I think obviously there are challenges here where you might not play but you’ve got to put yourself out there and put yourself in a position where you want to compete and at a team which is the best team in the world right now. That’s where I want to be and I have so much respect for Liverpool and my journey with Liverpool but I’m here now and in this moment I’m so happy to be here. I will be competing but we’re going to be competing as a team and like I said like we’re only going to push one another because we all want the same goal and we all want to win the trophies and the girls have already done that so I think they know how it feels so they only want to do it more.

I think it was the perfect time for me. I think through my years at Liverpool, I built myself up and worked really hard and then I got to the point and I want to be winning trophies and I want to be competing at the highest level and this is exactly where I want to be because I was here a few years ago growing up. I think it’s also so special to me, this club, and it feels like home already. I think for me, I just want to be winning and the team wants to win.

OS (on walking into a team who are champions of Europe): I think what comes with that and I think what’s so special about this team is the humility that’s within. Everyone’s equal. So coming in, I also just felt like, I don’t even know how to explain it, but it just feels like family. And you can tell that they’re the champions just by the way that they train the standards that they have, both on and off the pitch. So getting to replicate that and getting to the groove of that is really cool.

OS (on the 2015 World Cup in Canada when she was younger): I mean, it kind of sucked that it wasn’t really in Toronto, but me and my family actually made the trips to go watch games, and I think that was that was really special for me. I actually remember attending the Brazil-Costa Rica game that was in Montreal. And I think, as a lot of people probably know, Marta is also another one of my biggest idols that I modelled my game after. So, I mean, it was pretty special watching that World Cup. And I think that was also a turning point in my career, realistically, because I had actually gotten a chance to speak to Marta, and she gave me a lot of insight on what it’s like growing up not having women’s football idols, because she didn’t have one. And I think it’s so special now for the girls to look up to people like us, doing what we do.

CK: I think everything happens for a reason, I’m a big believer in that… it’s a little bit crazy the journey that it’s been, especially last season and on the back end of that winning the Champions League. In January, not thinking I’ll even go to the Euros and to win it with an amazing team is so special. I’m a big believer in everything happening for a reason and I am grateful for the opportunities that come my way. But I just take my chance with both hands. And whether I start the game, whether I finish the game, going out there to do a job for the team and the manager is important. For me, I’m ready for opportunities.

TH: Games aren’t just won by just the 11 that starts on the pitch, it’s won by the whole team not just the girls that are the finishers, also the backroom staff as well. I think that’s what’s really amazing about this club is the depth, not just in the team, in the staff as well. I think that all provides you with you being your best, to be the best on the pitch. We’re going to be happy to compete, but it’s only going to make any single one of us better. And that’s what we’re here for, and we’re here to win games.

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