Leah Williamson Finds Positivity Amidst “Heavy” Criticism

Arsenal and England defender Leah Williamson has stated she is “in a good place” following periods of “a bit heavy” social media criticism encountered this season. The 27-year-old, whose return from an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury occurred in January, faced scrutiny due to her initial struggles with form at the campaign’s outset. Arsenal, known as the Gunners, currently trail Women’s Super League leaders Manchester City by seven points in a season that also saw manager Jonas Eidevall resign after just four matches. In October, Williamson participated in England’s friendly matches against Germany and South Africa, where she scored an impressive goal in the game against South Africa. However, she also committed an error that resulted in a goal conceded in both fixtures. Despite the ongoing criticism, Williamson conveyed to BBC Sport that she maintains a positive outlook. “I feel like for the first time I am in a place where I feel like a real footballer again. I can train every day, I can train at the weekend,” she stated. She added, “I’ve not had the best luck in the world and that’s OK, that’s life. It’s the first time I’m in a good place. I love football, I love going to training, I love playing.” Williamson also remarked, “If I listened to what everyone said, I wouldn’t enjoy it.” Leah Williamson marked her 150th Women’s Super League (WSL) appearance on Saturday in a match against Tottenham. Williamson led England as captain to the Euro 2022 championship, but was unable to participate in the 2023 World Cup due to an ACL injury. She indicated that she has developed the ability to “block out” negative comments on social media and relies on a trusted inner circle for support when necessary. “I listen to the people that matter in terms of my managers, my teammates and I have a select few people that I know I can turn to for honesty,” she explained. She continued, “You have to have criticism. I need feedback and I need the conversation to be progressive. It needs to be from people that know and people that I trust and understand the path I am trying to go on.” “Opinions are opinions and it is totally fine that they are out there, but it is not something I can engage with,” Williamson stated. Williamson maintains her social media accounts and has no intention of deactivating them. Although she utilizes these platforms to connect with friends and teammates, she acknowledged that avoiding unpleasant comments can sometimes be challenging. “It is hard to find a balance sometimes and it does get a bit heavy,” she remarked. She further elaborated, “People care about you, so when they reach out to you and want to check you are OK, we are like ‘we don’t know what is going on’ and I’m like ‘how bad is it?’. Then the human nature bit comes in, which is hard.” “I have the right people around me to tell me I am being me. Nobody has told me I have changed,” she concluded on the topic. This season, Arsenal has secured victories in all three of their Women’s Champions League group stage matches, with Williamson participating in each fixture. Criticism this season has not been limited to Williamson and her teammates; former manager Eidevall also faced significant scrutiny prior to his resignation. The phrase ‘JONAS OUT’ was spray-painted on a brick wall across from Emirates Stadium ahead of Arsenal’s 2-1 loss to Chelsea, which marked Eidevall’s final match as manager. The 41-year-old departed after three years leading the team, having secured only one victory in their initial four WSL matches. “It’s difficult. We are all human beings and those fans don’t know the person that he is,” Williamson commented regarding the situation. She added, “It’s sad when you see someone getting attacked and you know that they are a great person. But we know how it goes and it has been the same in the men’s game for so many years. It’s unforgiving and we all know that when we sign up to it. Not that it makes it right, but it’s part and parcel of the game.” Under the guidance of interim manager Renee Slegers, Williamson and Arsenal appear to have experienced a turnaround in form. The Gunners seem to have adapted smoothly to the Dutchwoman’s leadership, achieving four wins and one draw in her five matches at the helm. “I’m trying to understand it myself ,” Williamson stated. “We are probably under the highest pressure because we haven’t started how we needed to, so every game is a must-win game. Yet it feels very calm.” She continued, “Renee knows us all. She has connected with everyone individually. We got into a bit of a rut with low confidence and she has just stripped it back and wants the best out of every player. It’s working.” “Ultimately we go out every week to be better than the week before. We are doing great and everything looks rosy at the minute. We have had great results and we are working really hard,” Williamson concluded.