Smith 'learning so much' at Arsenal after backing up Young Player of the Year award

A year on from her record-breaking move from Liverpool, Olivia Smith is revelling in the learning curve she is on at Arsenal, hailing the influence of coach Renee Slegers and the Gunners' more experienced players.

Smith joined Arsenal from Liverpool last year, with the Gunners paying a then-world-record fee of £1m. She arrived fresh off the back of winning the PFA Young Player of the Year award, having scored seven goals in 20 Women's Super League appearances for the Reds in the 2024-25 season.

After her first season at the Emirates, the Canadian has now won the award again. Only Lauren Hemp had previously claimed it more than once, and the 22-year-old is just the second Arsenal player to win it, after Leah Williamson in 2014-15.

Confidence from Renee and growth alongside club-mates

Smith made 20 WSL appearances last term, scoring five goals and providing three assists. She slightly outperformed her 3.9 expected goals (xG), while she created 24 chances - a tally bettered only by Mariona Caldentey (46), Alessia Russo (32) and Beth Mead (26) among her club-mates as Arsenal finished second, behind Manchester City, in the WSL.

In an exclusive interview with Opta Analyst, Smith praised the environment Slegers has built at the Emirates.

"It's what's so great about this club. Renee instils so much confidence in me that she encourages me to go one-v-one, get into the box, find the cross," Smith said.

"She puts a lot of confidence in me to do what I do best and get into the box and make those decisions.

"I think that even just over last season, getting to perform with Less [Alessio Russo], Maria [Caldentey], has helped improve my game so much, and knowing them as people and what they want on the pitch makes it so much easier to grow in confidence."

She added: "I've been learning so much, and it's only helping me so much more as a player getting to play with them. Not even just tactically, but helping me grow as a person as well - I think that's also really important."

A tactical awakening

Slegers handed Smith plenty of faith, with the former Liverpool forward making 38 appearances across all competitions and finishing with 14 goal involvements. But Smith admitted she needed time to adapt to her new surroundings.

"Initially it was a bit difficult. I was so used to just getting the ball in space and running straight to goal and taking on one-v-ones or two-v-ones, using my speed when they weren't ready," she said.

"Now, playing for a team like Arsenal, we keep the game and opponents are often set in a low block, and obviously the way they set up means I have to read things quickly and make different decisions."

Smith was primarily deployed as a striker at Liverpool, but Slegers has used her across the frontline. "I think it's very dependent on the opponent. Renee has set me up on the left, right and central," she explained, describing how she relishes cutting in from the left, taking the ball down the line for a one-v-one on the right, or using her pace to run in behind as a central striker.

"Honestly, I'm just grateful to be on the pitch, and I use every minute I can to make the best out of it."

Title ambitions at the Emirates

While Arsenal could not defend their European crown last season or sustain a sustained title challenge, they did lift the inaugural FIFA Women's Champions Cup trophy in February, with Smith playing a key role. Now, she expects big things this term.

"We've had a full pre-season together, and it's looking really exciting and dangerous," she added. "We have tons of ambition this season, and we want to win whatever cup we can - we want it all this year."