The heartbeat of Arsenal’s squad is set for a major transplant this summer, with Beth Mead, Victoria Pelova, and Laia Codina all officially confirmed to be entering their final weeks in red and white.
The news of their collective departure signals a seismic shift for the Gunners, marking the end of a transformative chapter that saw the trio help restore Arsenal to the pinnacle of the English game.
As Mead brings the curtain down on a legendary nine-year stay that redefined the club’s modern history, Pelova and Codina leave behind a legacy of technical brilliance and defensive grit that proved vital to the team’s recent trophy hauls.
The announcement has sent shockwaves through the North London faithful, who now prepare for a final, emotional farewell to three pillars of the dressing room before the summer rebuild officially begins.
Beth Mead: The north London legend
After nine seasons, 263 appearances, and 86 goals, Beth Mead leaves Arsenal as nothing short of an icon. Joining from Sunderland in 2017, she evolved from a lethal finisher into the ultimate playmaker, becoming the only player in WSL history to register 50+ goals and 50+ assists.
Her trophy cabinet is staggering: a WSL title, three League Cups, and that historic 2025 UEFA Women’s Champions League title. Her influence was never clearer than in that final against Barcelona, where her game-changing cameo turned the tide for the Gunners.
Despite a gruelling ACL recovery, Mead’s resilience and big-game temperament—cemented by her 2022 BBC Sports Personality of the Year win- mark her as a true pioneer. She didn’t just play for Arsenal; she defined the era.
Ranking: 10/10. You can’t rank a history-maker any lower. She is the gold standard for what it means to be a “Gunner”.
The continental connection: Pelova & Codina’s farewell
While Mead represents the heart of the club, Victoria Pelova and Laia Codina brought the tactical sophistication that helped Arsenal conquer Europe. Both joined in 2023 and leave as decorated champions, having secured a League Cup, the 2025 Champions League, and the 2026 FIFA Women’s Champions Cup.
Arriving from Ajax in January 2023, Pelova was the “midfield magician” who made the Gunners tick. Across 87 appearances, her low centre of gravity and press-resistant passing turned North London into a playground for total football. Though a major ACL setback in 2024 tested her resolve, she fought back to remain a vital creative spark in the engine room.
Ranking: 8.5/10. A technician of the highest order who brought elite European flair to the Emirates.
The Spanish World Cup winner arrived from Barcelona with a “winning-is-everything” DNA. In her 58 appearances, Codina provided the defensive steel and ball-playing composure that allowed Arsenal’s front line to flourish. Whether starting or closing out big games, her “Barça-bred” intelligence made her a reliable pillar at the back.
Ranking: 8/10, composed, vocal, and physically imposing. She came as a champion and leaves as one.
Together, this duo leaves a legacy of technical excellence. Their departure marks a massive pivot point for the squad as they look toward a significant summer rebuild.
With the countdown now on, fans have just two matches left, headlined by an emotional Emirates send-off against Everton and a final away day at Anfield to face Liverpool, to witness this iconic trio in Arsenal colours before they officially walk out of the tunnel one last time.
1 Comment
I get why Beth Mead lands at 10/10 after 263 appearances and 86 goals, but “you can’t rank a history-maker any lower” feels a bit too neat. If the piece is ranking exits, Victoria Pelova and Laia Codina deserve more than a footnote too, especially with the way Arsenal leaned on them in the recent trophy runs. Mead’s nine years were huge, no doubt, but the gap between her and the others isn’t as clear-cut as this makes it sound. I was also messing around with an ai song generator earlier.