Fox: “I’m part of something bigger here”

Emily Fox was full of joy and gratitude following the extension of her contract at Arsenal.

Speaking to us in her first club interview following the completion of the deal, she spoke about how she felt to be staying in N5.

“I feel amazing,” she said. “I’m so happy about it and just extremely grateful for the opportunity to be able to represent this club and stay here and really try to make an impact and get titles and also impact the community and the younger generation.

“I think it's just being a part of something bigger than yourself and the connections I've made, the friendships. I do, and it's cliche and I think you hear it a lot, but it's genuine, like it's a family. And I felt like I could just keep pushing and keep going and help Arsenal and contribute.”

After her first game against Watford, Emily spoke about how easy it had been to settle in thanks to the encouragement and support she’d had from her teammates. Now, she feels it’s her responsibility to help new players.

“I think having had that experience and then, of course, you are in the opposite shoes of being here and knowing what to expect, it helps everyone out so much,” she explained. “I think at the end of the day, we're all humans, like moving and speaking a different language and being somewhere you've never been before, it's hard and challenging in itself, let alone to perform and play football.

“So I think at Arsenal, that is a top priority for the team and for the club to make people feel like they're at home and that way they can just focus on their football and let that do the work.”

Before signing for the club, Emily attended a game against Chelsea in front of almost 60,000 supporters at Emirates Stadium. Now she gets to play in front of so many fans, the novelty never wears off.

“No, it doesn’t,” she said. “Today we just had a training at the Emirates and just being back here, sun's out. It just feels like home. And again, I just feel so grateful to be a part of this club and to have the support and the backing and get to play at the Emirates every day.”

Asked for some highlights of her time as a Gunner so far, Emily continued: “There's a few. I mean, I think a lot of it for me as well is the things that don't involve actually playing. Like I think pre-season and the grind of pre-season and helping people move in or getting coffee.

“We had an amazing dinner. The whole team met at Kim's house a few weeks ago and it was just very wholesome. It's pretty amazing. You have so many people from different countries, cultures, and we're all just representing and a part of Arsenal. We all merge together and have a team goal.

“So I think about that a lot, just in terms of being from the US and now being here. But in terms of football, I mean, Champions League without a doubt. I'll say my first year winning the Conti Cup really quickly. That was cool. The Tottenham game, that was amazing. So there's a few.”

Of course, Emily was among the team on top of a coach during summer’s trophy parade celebrations in north London, and she couldn’t quite believe the experience.

“It was surreal,” she said. “I mean, I think I see that as a once in a lifetime opportunity. And again, for me coming from the US and being a part of English football culture and being part of Arsenal and getting to experience that, it was unreal.

“And it's another level in terms of being able to go out to the streets and all you can see is just people and you can see red and the chants. Like I said earlier, being a part of something bigger, that's what I think of.

“We want to set ourselves up and give ourselves the best chance to win the league, first and foremost. Champions League as well. Have a good start to that and then keep going next year. And then also the FA Cup and getting the chance to play at Wembley.”