Jordan Nobbs: Aston Villa’s former Arsenal star on ‘special’ WSL record, coaching and resilience

Nobbs joined Villa in 2023 after 12 years with Arsenal and she has scored 58 goals across her 193 WSL appearances.

She won 12 trophies at Arsenal, including three WSL titles, but had to overcome a number of serious injuries, which heavily affected her international career.

“Those times, when you look back now, appear to have just flown by, but when you’re actually in the moment it was one thing after each other,” said Nobbs.

A major setback for Nobbs came in November 2018.

“After I did my anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), I couldn’t really catch a break and it was just the love of playing and believing that if I worked hard, eventually I could get back on the pitch,” she said.

“I just had to keep thinking there was a light at the end of the tunnel. Football is good and bad. You have amazing days and then you have bad days too.

“I think it’s just about trying to enjoy it as much as you can. I’ve always played football because I love it. I’ve probably learned to just keep fighting.”

Villa boss Robert de Pauw described Nobbs as a “little Luka Modric in midfield”, something she joked she would write down and keep forever.

She has long been considered one of England’s brightest talents, catching the eye at WSL level after signing for Arsenal from Sunderland in 2010.

Nobbs was named the England Player of the Year in 2016 and the FA Players’ Player of the Year in 2017 – but a lot has changed throughout her WSL career.

“It’s probably just the level of support. Backroom staff, for example, that maybe you don’t see or hear as much about,” Nobbs said.

“When we first started, we were still doing a lot on our own as players. Now, especially for the younger ones coming up, there’s just so much they can learn and soak up on how to be the best footballer.”