Olivia Smith on needing to keep her cool after League Cup red card | OneFootball

Arsenal star Olivia Smith has opened up on needing to keep her cool after her recent red card against Manchester United in the Women’s League Cup.

The Canadian international was shown two yellow cards during Arsenal’s semi-final defeat to United.

This forced the 20-year-old to miss Arsenal’s 2-0 victory over Chelsea in the Women’s Super League. However, she bounced back strongly with a goal in their 6-0 win over AS FAR in the Women’s Champions Cup.

Olivia Smith on her red card against Manchester United

Arsenal star Olivia Smith was shown a second yellow card for a rash challenge on Manchester United midfielder Julia Zigiotti Olme.

It boiled down to frustration after a number of tackles she received during the same game.

In an interview with the Telegraph, Smith said: “I need to learn to keep my head a bit better and I think that shows my age a little bit.

“I think it’s a harsh learning lesson for me to be sent off but again, being a footballer and the way that I play, I need to really suck it up and just play my game and not let that disrupt me. I do wear my heart on my sleeve, but I need to learn to keep my cool and just keep going at them and do what I do best.”

During the interview, Smith revealed she took up taekwondo until the age of 11, and said the martial art gave her some skills she could transfer to football.

She said: “With taekwondo, I did a lot of fighting as well. So obviously, I’m going to get kicked, stuff hurts, but I have to get back up and keep going. I want to win and that’s just my mentality.
So if it takes me getting up five or six times, I’m gonna do it.”

Her comments follow Renee Slegers’ description of the red card as a “tough learning experience” for Smith.

Smith sets sights on first trophy

Smith could win her first trophy for Arsenal since joining the club in a £1 million move from Liverpool last summer.

The deal made her the first £1m player in women’s football, although her transfer record has since been surpassed.

Arsenal will face Corinthians in the Women’s Champions Cup at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday.

It comes after the Brazilian side narrowly defeated Gotham FC 1-0, before Arsenal’s heavy victory over AS FAR.

Clubs are reportedly concerned that Arsenal have a “significant advantage” at the Women’s Champions Cup.

This is due to the tournament being held in London and Arsenal being in the middle of their season, while Gotham FC and Corinthians are effectively in pre-season.