Beth Mead channelled Olympics disappointment into ‘best form of career’

A year on from her Olympics disappointment, Beth Mead is preparing for a home Euros feeling she has been in the finest form of her career – and can produce even better.

The Arsenal winger was among the notable players not included by Hege Riise in the Great Britain squad for last summer’s Tokyo Olympics.

Mead has bounced back in some style, going on to register 11 goals and eight assists across Arsenal’s 2021-22 Women’s Super League campaign and score 12 times in 10 England appearances.

Having earlier this week been confirmed as part of the Lionesses’ provisional squad for this summer’s Euros named by Sarina Wiegman, the 27-year-old told the PA news agency: “I think the season has probably been, for club and country, the best form I’ve been in in my career, and I’ve been feeling great.

“I’ve channelled the negative energy into positive energy from last summer through this season, and long may that continue.

“I’m super happy with how my season has gone, but I still want to do better, still think I can do better and still think I have a lot more to give. So hopefully I can show that in this Euros.

I've channelled the negative energy into positive energy from last summer through this season, and long may that continue.- Beth Mead

“I’ve got a great buzz and energy around the tournament. I kind of didn’t want the season to finish because of the form I’d been in, so I guess I just need to get back into a rhythm now and hopefully, if selected in the squad and in the games, I can put on those performances and help the team.

“(After) my disappointment of last year, I had the chance to rest, recover, switch off and then come into pre-season and play the best football I’ve played.

“I’ve been lucky enough that the likes of Jonas