Dream becomes reality as Tobin Heath debuts for Arsenal

October 18, 2021 c_admin Football News, Women Football Comments Off on Dream becomes reality as Tobin Heath debuts for Arsenal

Dream becomes reality as Tobin Heath debuts for Arsenal

Widely considered to be one of the most skilled players to grace the women’s game, Tobin Heath has made her eagerly anticipated first appearance for Arsenal, having signed for the London club at the start of September. While her debut consisted of just a few moments of the pitch, it was the realization of a lifelong dream for the 33-year-old USA soccer star.

Heath had spent last season with Manchester United, although injury problems limited her to just 11 games and 4 goals with the Red Devils, who ultimately decided against extending the one-year contract she had signed for the 2020-21 campaign. Although there were options available from teams in the United States, the opportunity to join Arsenal was just too good to miss.

“I’m a huge Arsenal fan,” Heath enthused to the media, in comments highlighted at https://www.forbes.com shortly after she signed for the London club at the start of September. “It was my first childhood club, a team that I really followed and fell in love with at a young age,” she explained, delighted to finally get her opportunity to represent the Gunners in the English Women’s Super League.

Throughout her childhood in New Jersey during the 1990’s and taking her own steps towards professional soccer, Heath was attracted to the style of Arsenal men’s team under the leadership of Arsene Wenger, during one of the most successful periods in the club’s history. “He gave me a club and a passion, I will forever be a gunner,” she posted via Facebook, when the legendary Frenchman stepped down from his managerial post in 2018.

Of course, during her own storied career, Heath has enjoyed plenty of domestic and international soccer success. After winning the NCAA Women’s Soccer Championship three times with University of North Carolina, she moved represented several teams in the USL W-League and WSL, before the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) was formed in 2013, which opened the door to new professional opportunities.

After signing for Portland Thorns at the start of 2013, Heath actually moved to France and played for Paris Saint-Germain, before returning to the United States to begin representing her NWSL side. Through the most glittering period of her professional career, Heath won the NWSL Championship in 2013 and 2017, along with the NWSL Shield in 2016. This period also coincided with her notable rise to prominence with the United States national team.
Heath was a key part of USWNT which reached the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2011, then went on to win the international tournament in 2015 and 2019. She also won Olympic Gold with the USA in 2008 and 2012, plus the CONCACAF Women’s Championship in 2014 and 2018, along with several other important international competition triumphs. The 2016 US Soccer Female Athlete of the Year has also earned numerous personal accolades.

Although it has been a long and undoubtedly challenging journey to finally achieve her lifelong ambition, Heath now gets to pull on the famous jersey of the most successful team in English women’s soccer. Since the maiden season of the WFA National League Premier Division in 1991-92, which was followed by the FA Women’s Premier League National Division and since 2011 by the FA Women’s Super League, no team has won more honors than Arsenal.

Having won 15 titles and finished as runners-up on 3 occasions, Arsenal are habitual favorites to clinch more trophies heading into each season. English women’s soccer competitions also feature prominently at https://sbo.net/ recommended betting sites, which are backed by honest reviews and ratings, featuring detailed information surrounding all the latest free bets and sign-up bonuses. Now featuring Heath in their squad, the Gunners will certainly be getting plenty of backing.

Although they haven’t won the WSL since 2018-19, the debut of Heath with Arsenal came late into an emphatic 5-0 triumph against big rivals Manchester City, registering their third league win of the 2021-22 campaign. Having already beaten reigning champions Chelsea 3-2 and Reading 4-0 in their first two games, Arsenal have made a fine start and Heath could be destined for more silverware at the London club, if their excellent form continues.