Leah Williamson: 'I'm very grateful to be a part of this generation' | OneFootball

Leah Williamson has reflected on how she's navigated the exponential growth of the women's game and the impact it's had on her career at Arsenal.

The childhood Gunner has been with the club since age six, rising through the ranks of the academy system. Popularity of the women's game has risen exponentially since, catapulted by England's historic triumph at Euro 2022.

"I don't think anybody could have predicted it or not at the rate at which it's happened," admitted Williamson. "I'm very proud to be at Arsenal. I think the way that they've handled the changes and the support that they've given to us, I think we're very lucky with the people that we have in place in the hierarchy of the club, and how they've managed our transition as an individual club.

"What it did for women's football in general, the Euro 22 win is why people still keep talking about it. It maybe wouldn't have happened in the way it has, if we didn't [win]. So, I'm very grateful to be a part of this generation."

Williamson was on punditry duties for the Premier League's North London derby, a game that saw the Gunners take home the city's bragging rights in a 2-1 victory. 90min asked the defender whether representing the club as a member of the women's team was something she ever dreamed of growing up, to which she answered a frank "no".

"I didn't think it was possible, I was prepared to sit in my season ticket seats for the rest of my life," laughed Williamson. "I feel like the men's side here has always respected the fact that we've had a women's team, Arsenal like led the way on that for a long time.

"I think the way that it's been done at Arsenal, there are things that we'll still have discussions on, things that the women's team has never needed before, because we haven't had this many staff, this many players. It surprises me sometimes how good of a position we are in with the relationship we have with the men's team. Even with the boys, I don't feel uncomfortable speaking about them, because we are club. It's almost like speaking about my own team, in a sense."

Leah Williamson is tough on Arsenal's academy players / Catherine Ivill - AMA/GettyImages

Arsenal have had a busy January window in-house, securing the signature of three academy players in Laila Harbart, Maddy Earl and Vivienne Lia. Having risen through the ranks of Hale End herself, Williamson admitted she is "probably the hardest on them".

"I don't feel the need for any niceties because they know what I think," Williamson says. "I'm so happy that they've come through, I think they all deserve it and I think they've worked really hard, which I care about most. If you come through Arsenal, you obviously have talent, but the way that they've all conducted themselves, they know I'm proud of them for that."

Williamson also spoke on how important it is for the up and coming players to remember the journey that women's football has been one prior to their arrival: "It's good to know where we came from".

"I tell them that they're so lucky and I'm so happy for you, but you've got teammates that used to work two jobs," she added. "So enjoy everything that you have, but don't waste it. I don't want them to not have it, I just want them to to use every aspect of it that they have. They should end up being ten times better footballers than the people that we are today because of the support that they now have."