Crystal Palace midfielder Chloe Arthur: Football’s highs and lows can be mentally draining

BY EDMUND BRACK

Crystal Palace midfielder Chloe Arthur has opened up on her battle with mental health.

The 27-year-old Scottish international joined the Eagles in the summer following her release from Women’s Super League side Aston Villa.

She recorded an assist on her debut for the South Londoners – a 1-0 win against London City Lionesses – and started the 3-0 win against Coventry United. Dean Davenport’s side are top of the FA Women’s Championship after two games of the season have been played.

“Football looks so glamorous from the outside, but there is a lot of lows with it as well,” admitted the Celtic academy graduate, who has also had spells at Bristol City and Birmingham City during her career.

“You have to love it to still be in it, because mentally it can be really draining. It’s either really high or really low, there is no in-between.

“You have to have that real passion for it to play it at a professional level. I wouldn’t say that I have overcome mental health, but it’s a hurdle that I have had where for years and years I was silent about it.

“It’s the main thing that I have dealt with and still deal with, I guess. I’m in a really good place now, and that’s why moving to a club where what I value aligns with what the club values, because at the end of the day, you are the most important person, and you have to be happy.

“I have been at clubs before where I have been really happy and not happy. Being in the middle to the bottom end of the table in the WSL, where you’re constantly being defeated, it becomes really draining.

“It’s something that I am proud of to say that I have managed to overcome it and speak about it – it’s a massive subject and a lot of people do struggle.”

Arthur has recorded 33 caps for her country since making her professional debut in 2015 and was recently called up to Pedro Martinez Losa’s squad for the 2-1 friendly defeat against Holland and the 6-0 World Cup qualifier win against the Faroe Islands.

They play Austria in the first round play-off tie at Hampden Park, with the winner taking on the Republic of Ireland for a spot at the 2023 Australia and New Zealand World Cup.

“I really value being present and in the moment,” said Arthur of her goals for the season, which is very much in its fledgling stages.

“With Crystal Palace, we want to win the league, and with Scotland, we want to qualify for the World Cup.

“For both of them to happen, I have to be performing. For me to perform, I have to be enjoying it.

“It’s amazing to put on the [Scotland] shirt every time – it’s such an honour. Sometimes you can kind of forget when you’re in the moment, but when you think about it, and when the national anthem happens, that’s when it proper hits you.

“On the way to games, when you see little kids who are desperate to see you and to watch the games, it just reminds you of being a kid and never thinking that moment would happen.

“It’s moments of realisation seeing things such as that.”

Palace will host Championship rivals Southampton on Sunday at Selhurst Park, looking to build on their perfect start to the new season and aim to improve on their record-breaking campaign, which just passed.

“It’s amazing,” said Arthur, looking ahead to walking out at Selhurst Park. “A lot of teams now have their women’s team play at their stadium, which is important because then the fans feel more a part of it.

“We just want to have as much support as possible.

“It’s a massive occasion for us, and we want to play as many times as we can. Hopefully, fans can see how much the women’s game has progressed and how good we are as a team.”

For ticket info go to https://tickets.cpfc.co.uk/categories/womens?_ga=2.237824768.1606286757.1662973934-2009316579.1610377842

PICTURE: KEITH GILLARD