"When Arsenal made Olivia Smith the first 1m player player in the history of women's football, they did not think they were signing a striker. The 21-year-old Canadian had earned a reputation as a busy right-sided winger, the kind that hugs the sideline and takes pleasure in turning full-backs inside out. The fee raised eyebrows in some quarters - after all, Chloe Kelly had seemingly made the right flank spot her own during last season's triumphant Champions League campaign. What could Smith offer that she - or Beth Mead - could not? As simple as it seems, the answer may well be versatility."
"Smith played the unfamiliar role of number nine against runaway Women's Super League leaders Manchester City on Sunday, but looked right at home as she scored the only goal in a 1-0 win. With three goals in her past four league games, Smith is one of the most in-form players in the WSL. "I'll play wherever I need to be. I was running at the back line, stretching them, runs in behind and trying to get finishes on goal," Smith told Sky Sports."
Olivia Smith arrived with a reputation as a busy right-sided winger who excels at hugging the sideline and beating full-backs. Arsenal used her as a number nine against Manchester City, where she scored the only goal in a 1-0 victory by exploiting the opponents' high defensive line and lack of pace. Smith has three goals in four league games and has provided form and tactical flexibility. She beat Rebecca Knaak to a pass, rounded Ayaka Yamashita and finished into an empty net. Stina Blackstenius missed the match with a calf issue, prompting the positional change.
Read at www.bbc.com
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