As Beth Mead was crowned Sports Personality of the Year the majority of her Arsenal teammates weren't able to attend in-person.
The Gunners had Champions League business to attend to overseas, as they faced Zurich FC in Switzerland earlier in the evening. Mead also would have been forced to miss the ceremony in Salford, were it not for the fact she is currently sidelined with an ACL injury.
Just over an hour before Mead was announced as SPOTY for 2022, Arsenal secured a 9-1 win in Switzerland to ensure they finished top of Group C in their final game of the calendar year. Frida Maanum hitting a hat-trick, as Jonas Eidevall's team signed off from the group stage in style.
But despite being just under 800 miles away Mead wasn't far from their minds, with the players gathering around a mobile phone to watch the announcement on the team bus. A video was then posted by the club on social media site Twitter, showing the live reaction of Mead 's teammates when Tanni Grey-Thompson read out the result.
Manuela Zingsberger, Leah Williamson and Katie McCabe can be seen in the group of players watching on before erupting into cheers when Mead was crowned the winner.
By claiming the title, Mead became the first women's footballer to win the award. She beat off competition from England cricket's Test captain Ben Stokes and Winter Olympic curling champion Eve Muirhead, who were second and third respectively.
Mead did have one of her club teammates with her at the ceremony as partner Vivianne Miedema, who is also currently out injured with an ACL injury sustained last week, accompanying her. In addition, a number of players from England's Euro 2022 squad attended the glitzy ceremony, including Jill Scott, Mary Earps, Lauren Hemp and Alessia Russo where they received the Team of the Year award.
And the Lionesses claimed a hat-trick of awards after manager Sarina Wiegman was also announced as the Coach of the Year. It was the perfect night for Arsenal who not only saw star player Mead claim SPOTY, but also produced a European masterclass to see off Zurich.
The 9-1 win ensures they finished top of Group C, ahead of French heavyweights Lyon, which means they will be seeded for the quarter-final draw in the New Year. Arsenal will also play the second leg at the Emirates Stadium..
Maanum fired home a hat-trick against the Swiss side, while forward Stina Blackstenius ended a seven-game goalless run with a brace and Australian international Caitlin Foord also netted twice. Captain Kim Little and Mana Iwabuchi also got on the scoresheet as Arsenal secured a fourth win of the group stage, Mead's win later completing the perfect night.
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