da pinnacle: Arsenal defender Leah Williamson called Jen Beattie her "hero" after the Scotland international completed a transfer to Bay FC.
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Williamson responds to Beattie leaving ArsenalLionesses captain idolised the ScotTeam-mates at the Gunners since 2019WHAT HAPPENED?
Taking to Instagram, Williamson showed her support for Beattie following the latter's confirmed departure from Arsenal to Bay FC, the new San Jose NWSL expansion franchise which begins playing this year. Beattie had been a Gunners player since 2019, following an earlier spell between 2009 and 2013.
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Williamson said in the post: "My hero. My life is better with you in it and I can't wait to see you shine in Cali."
InstagramGettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE
Beattie was a star of the Arsenal first-team during her first spell at a club when Williamson was rising through the youth ranks. They hadn't played together by the time the Scot joined Manchester City in 2013, but did get that chance when Beattie returned to the club six years later. Now, Williamson's recent return to action from an ACL injury suffered last April was effectively what allowed Beattie to pursue a new challenge. Arsenal have also signed Sweden's Amanda Ilestedt and Spain's Laia Codina to boost their defence during the summer transfer window.
DID YOU KNOW?
Despite her usual role as a defender, Beattie scored a hat-trick off the bench in a Champions League win for Arsenal over Barcelona in 2012. She had earlier scored in the reverse fixture too, which happened to be Alexia Putellas' debut in the competition.