Arsenal legend Kelly Smith speaks on Olivia Smith comparisons | OneFootball

Arsenal legend Kelly Smith speaks on Olivia Smith comparisons | OneFootball

In partnership with

Yahoo sports
Icon: She Kicks Magazine

She Kicks Magazine

·12 octobre 2025

Arsenal legend Kelly Smith speaks on Olivia Smith comparisons

Image de l'article :Arsenal legend Kelly Smith speaks on Olivia Smith comparisons

Olivia Smith (Arsenal FC)

Arsenal record signing Olivia Smith put the Gunners a goal up in the first half at the Emirates against Brighton and Hove Albion on Sunday.


Vidéos OneFootball


And on the BBC television broadcast of the match, Arsenal assistant coach Kelly Smith was asked whether she thought the Canadian international had anything in common with her in her own playing days.

“I wasn’t that fast, to be honest!” she laughed.

Kelly Smith is one of the greatest players and goalscorers England has produced. She spent most of her career with Arsenal, but also had significant spells in the USA, representing the Seton Hall Pirates during her college career, and later the New Jersey Lady Stallions, Philadelphia Charge, New Jersey Wildcats, and the Boston Breakers. With over a century of caps for England, she is the Lionesses’ second highest-ever goalscorer, behind Ellen White.

She retired in 2017 after two decades of a career in which she picked up plenty of silverware.

And since the arrival of namesake Olivia, long-standing observers of women’s football in England have drawn parallels between the two, who are now working closely together on the training ground.

“I love working with Liv,” said the coach. “She is very positive, she has brilliant 1v1 intent, and good speed to get at defenders.

“Hopefully we can get the ball out to her more and she can dictate the game for us a little bit more than she is already.”

Olivia Smith: I want to learn

The younger Smith made an excellent start to her Arsenal career, scoring an incredible goal against London City Lionesses on the opening day of the season that was later named Barclays Women’s Super League goal of the month.

She said on her arrival at the club that she was not thinking about the transfer fee that was spent to secure her move from Liverpool to north London.

“I think at the end of the day, the price tag is a price tag, it’s not really something I’m focused on,” she said to the media at the time. “I’m just focused on being on the pitch, learning from a great set of players.”

She added: “I’m hungry, I’m driven, I want to learn, I want to grow and I want to win things, ultimately. I think that was a big piece. 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.”

À propos de Publisher