Taylor pleased with Miedema mentality | OneFootball

Gareth Taylor praised Vivianne Miedema for how she dealt with an emotional return to her former club in our WSL opening day draw with Arsenal.

The Dutch international drew City level on the stroke of half-time against the Gunners, who she left this summer after a phenomenal seven seasons in North London.

Jess Park’s stunner looked to have handed us all three points at Emirates Stadium but Beth Mead’s late strike meant the contest ended in an exciting 2-2 draw.

Miedema now has two goals in as many matches for City and Taylor was full of praise for the 28-year-old and her display in difficult circumstances.

He said: “It’s what Viv does. She scores the first goal in Europe in midweek, and then gets the season opener for us at her old club, she just has that ability, it just shows her quality at the right moments.

“It would've been a big day for her today and would've been tough to get through because there’ll have been some nice moments for her today.

“What we’ve tried to do with all our players, not just Viv, is create an environment where they can be themselves and be vulnerable at times.

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“We had some good conversations with Viv all week and could tell this was a game that she just wasn’t comfortable with.

“We understand the reasons why, it’s really difficult to go back to a former club, and particularly one you’ve been at for so long.

“Like I say, I think she’s glad it’s been put to one side.”

The moment of the match was unquestionably Park’s goal, with the England international rifling an unstoppable half-volley in off the bar from distance just before the hour.

It was a phenomenal finish, and testament to the growth that Taylor has seen in the young attacker since she was afforded a regular starting berth in the second half of 2023/24.

However, the boss admitted he’d missed the early goal of the season contender!

“I didn’t see it. I was coming down from upstairs, but I heard it was very good,” he laughed.

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“I’m not surprised with Jess, when she first broke in when Jill Roord got injured, she did so many good things, but can we have the icing on the cake, the final action, the assists and goals.

“She’s done it really well and started the season really hot. To come here and score a spectacular goal is impressive.

“She gives you everything she’s got, for someone who’s quite diminutive, she’s pressing in the 93rd, 94th minute and really putting the miles in.”