Beth Mead must use limited Arsenal opportunities to show she can still play a key role for the Lionesses

In some ways, Saturday's performance encapsulated Mead's 2025. Since Chloe Kelly's arrival at Arsenal at the end of the January transfer window, in a loan deal that would be made permanent this summer, the 30-year-old has struggled for consistent starts at club level.

Indeed, since Kelly's second Arsenal debut, Mead has started just six times for her club and has appeared as a substitute on eight further occasions. Kelly, meanwhile, has made 10 starts and three sub appearances. Only twice have the pair started together, with head coach Renee Slegers preferring to combine the two with the other wide options in her squad, rather than with each other.

Yet, despite her opportunities becoming more limited than she is used to, Mead has remained effective. She scored three goals and provided three assists in that period after Kelly's arrival last season, for an average of one direct goal contribution every 102 minutes, with the biggest of that half-dozen being her classy assist in the Champions League final, setting Stina Blackstenius up for the goal that made Arsenal champions of Europe.

It was a similar story at Euro 2025. Mead went into that tournament with England as a starter, having featured from the get-go in each of the Lionesses' last five outings before the competition got underway in Switzerland. She'd justified her place, too, despite reduced minutes at Arsenal, producing three goals and two assists in that spell. When Sarina Wiegman picked her first XI of the tournament against France, Mead was in.

But it quickly became apparent that a change was needed to balance the England team out. After a flattering 2-1 loss in that opener, Wiegman moved Lauren James from the No.10 role to the right wing, meaning Mead dropped to the bench. Despite that, she would still play a crucial role in the Lionesses' second-successive continental triumph via impressive cameos off the bench throughout the knockout stages.

No senior player ever really wants to be a super-sub, especially not one with Mead's pedigree. It thus made total sense for London City to try and prise her away from Arsenal this summer, with more minutes sure to give her a greater shot of returning to that England XI. But it was always going to be hard for her part ways with the club she has grown into a superstar with over the last eight years, especially when she didn't have to.

"It’s a tough club to walk away from," Mead told the Guardian last week. "When you’ve been somewhere this long it holds a very precious place in your heart. I have another year left on my contract, I still think I’m more than good enough to compete and be able to play in this team and I know I bring something different."

Mead proved her point on Saturday with the two assists that killed off what turned out to be a tricky opening fixture of the new WSL season for Arsenal. She might not be one of the first names on the teamsheet right now but she remains one of the most impactful and effective forwards at Slegers' disposal.

The Gunners' boss knows Mead's value, too. Just because the England star is often starting as a substitute doesn't mean she doesn't have an important role to play, both match-by-match and across the entire season.

"She brings certain qualities that are very important to us," Slegers said ahead of the game. A day later, Mead showed those to be composure under pressure, good decision-making and a quality final ball.

She will get her chances to exhibit her talent from the start, too. Last season was evidence of that. It's a long old campaign, one in which Arsenal will be competing across four fronts and one in which their squad will suffer injuries. Team selection can, and will, always change, and Mead will earn greater opportunities.

Mead's decision to stay in north London proves that she believes in her ability to do that - and why wouldn't she? We're talking about a Ballon d'Or runner-up, someone who has provided big moments in the biggest games and will continue to do exactly that for as long as she is playing.

Mead will positively impact games as a sub and as a starter for Arsenal this season, and is an incredibly important player as they look to mount a serious WSL title charge, while also competing in three cup competitions. She is a valuable depth piece for Slegers.

Similar can be said at international level. As Saturday showed, Mead is a player who can sprinkle magic on a game at any moment. As such, whether it is as a starter or off the bench, she will remain an important piece for club and country this season, even if it's in a different way to what we've seen before.