'I hope she sticks two fingers up at Arsenal!' - Gunners torn to shreds over shock Vivianne Miedema exit by Lionesses & WSL legend Ellen White

The Gunners revealed this week that they will not renew Miedema's contract at the end of this season, instead allowing her to become a free agent after seven incredible years in north London. The news has been met with shock and criticism by many, with the 27-year-old widely regarded as one of the best players on the planet.

Miedema has struggled for fitness this season after returning from a long-term ACL injury back in October as she needed a second surgery on that same knee back in March. However, how highly-rated she remains is clear in the widespread reports that Manchester City, one of Arsenal's biggest rivals at the top of the WSL, are interested in keeping her in England by signing her this summer on a free transfer.

White, who played for both Arsenal and Man City in a largely successful career that ended after England's Euro 2022 triumph, has now added her opinion to the mix on BBC Radio 5 Live's Women's Football Weekly.

"I think it's an absolutely shocking decision by the club, to be honest," she said. "To firstly not offer her a new contract, to not show her love and desire to keep her at the club, to not build a team around Vivianne Miedema. Her stats are outrageous, I would love to have her stats: 172 appearances, 125 goals and 50 assists.

"I just think it's shocking that they haven't shown her the love to want to keep her at the club and if she does go to someone in the WSL, this is going to sound so bad, but I hope she goes to that team and sticks two fingers up at Arsenal, scores a few goals and celebrates hard in front of that board, to be like, 'Hello, what are you missing here?' Because she is 27 years old. If she wants to continue to play, obviously she's had her ACL injury, hopefully she's healthy and back to full fitness, she could play for a number of years and she's still got records to break. It's just outrageous."

Arsenal are reportedly targeting Barcelona star Mariona Caldentey to reinforce a forward line that will be hit by Miedema's departure, with the Spain international also out of contract this summer at her current club.

The Gunners star will get to bid farewell to the fans this weekend as Arsenal host Brighton in their final game of the season on Saturday, but whether that will be her last appearance in the WSL or not, only time will tell.