Arsenal's 'contagious' positivity and £1m Smith driving strong end to season

Arsenal have pulled off a remarkable turnaround, transforming their fortunes over the past few months with their newest signing, Olivia Smith. The 21-year-old Canadian striker has been instrumental in their recent successes, showcasing her versatility and ability to adapt to different roles.

Signed by Arsenal for £1m, Smith was initially expected to be a right-sided winger, but manager Renee Slegers opted to play her as a number nine against Manchester City due to an injury to Stina Blackstenius. The gamble paid off, with Smith scoring the only goal in a 1-0 win.

Smith's talent and adaptability have been key to Arsenal's resurgence, allowing them to compete with the league leaders, Manchester City. Her ability to play on intuition has been particularly impressive, as evidenced by her performance against City, where she rounded Ayaka Yamashita and slotted home the only goal.

The winter break proved to be a crucial factor in Arsenal's turnaround, providing players with much-needed rest and rejuvenation. "Players getting a rest mentally and physically has done us really well," said Slegers. The team's newfound energy and positivity are contagious, and they look set to continue their push for silverware.

Despite being 10 points behind City, Arsenal remain hopeful of making a late surge in the title race. More silverware may be within their grasp, with the European champions looking strong in both the FA Cup and Champions League. With Smith leading the charge, it's hard not to believe that the Gunners can make a serious push for the top spot.

The 21-year-old Canadian has only been playing in the WSL for less than two years but has quickly established herself as one of the league's most in-form players. Her versatility and ability to adapt have made her a valuable asset to Arsenal, and she is set to play a key role in their remaining games.

As Slegers noted, "There is more to come" from Smith, who is still a young player adjusting to life in England. But one thing is certain – Olivia Smith has already made a significant impact on the team, and her future looks bright for Arsenal.

I'm loving how Arsenal's turned it around with Olivia Smith! She's like a breath of fresh air, always adapting and scoring goals . I mean, who expects a right-sided winger to become a number nine overnight? The fact that they signed her for £1m is pure dead brilliant . And the winter break did wonders for the team - it's amazing how rest can revitalize you, isn't it? Plus, she's still only 21 and has been playing in the WSL for less than two years... the potential is huge! Slegers seems to know what he's doing, and I'm excited to see where this season takes them . Maybe they'll even give City a run for their money?

idk what's goin on with arsenal lately they went from strugglin to bein all of a sudden super competitive olivia smith is definately makin it happen 10 points behind city but i still got faith in em those wsl games were just the beginnin, she showed what shes made of and now im lovin every minute of it gotta love seein a team go from nowhere to everywhere

Wow - I mean, can you believe this transformation? 10 points behind City just months ago and now they're right back in the mix . And it's all thanks to Olivia Smith, who has been a revelation since joining the team . She's got that special something - versatility, adaptability... she's like a Swiss Army knife on the pitch ! Winter break was definitely a turning point for them, and now they're looking stronger than ever . Can't wait to see what's next for Arsenal and Olivia Smith!

omg can u believe how far arsenal's fallen like they were struggling last season but now smiths come along and it's like she turned them around 1m is a steal for someone with her talent i mean ayaka yamashita's been robbed out of scoring that goal lol anyway im hyped to see what the rest of the season holds for them especially if they can take down city

gotta say, £1m seems like a steal for this talent, considering how well she's performed so far! but seriously, what's up with all these injuries to top players? stina blackstenius went down, and that's when they gave smith a chance... meanwhile, city's been cruising without major issues. still love olivia smith tho - her game sense is so sharp!

Arsenal's recent turnaround is seriously impressive ! I mean, they were struggling big time before this girl Olivia Smith joined the squad. Now they're suddenly competing with Manchester City for the top spot? That's wild ! The fact that she was signed for just £1m and has already made such a huge impact is just crazy .

I think what's really interesting is how she's being used in different positions by Renee Slegers. I mean, initially she was expected to be a winger, but Slegers saw an opportunity to play her up front and it paid off big time ! Her ability to adapt on the fly like that is just a testament to her talent.

And yeah, the winter break definitely helped the team get some much-needed rest and rejuvenation. I mean, players are human beings too, right? They need a break from all the pressure and stress of competing in one of the toughest leagues in the world .

I'm not saying they've got a shot at beating Manchester City for the title or anything (although it's definitely looking good), but with Smith leading the charge and the team looking more energetic than ever, I think Arsenal are definitely worth keeping an eye on .