Vivianne Miedema: Striker’s Arsenal exit is ‘shocking decision’

Arsenal’s decision not to renew Vivianne Miedema’s contract is “absolutely shocking”, according to former Gunners forward Ellen White.

The club announced on Monday that the Netherlands international will leave at the end of the season after seven years.

The 27-year-old is the all-time top-scorer in the Women’s Super League with 79 goals and has scored 125 in total and provided 50 assists in 172 appearances for Arsenal.

“I think it’s an absolutely shocking decision by the club to be honest,” White told BBC Radio 5 Live’s Women’s Football Weekly.

“To not offer her a new contract, to not show her love and desire to keep her at the club, to not build a team around Vivianne Miedema.”

Miedema won the Women’s Super League title in 2018-19 and three Women’s League Cups during her time in north London.

She has also lifted the Golden Boot – the award for the most goals scored in a single season – twice.

“I just think it’s shocking that they haven’t shown her the love to want to keep her at the club,” added White.

“If she does want to go to someone else in the WSL, I hope she goes to that team and sticks two fingers up at Arsenal and scores a few goals and celebrates hard.

“She is 27. If she wants to continue to play she could play for a number of years and she still has records to break. It’s just outrageous.

“She is not going to be short of offers. I hope she has got loads of offers. Her being on a free you would hope she would then get the contract that she deserves.”