Arsenal defender Steph Catley said she is “really enjoying” her time at centre-back this season, having become a staple of Renee Slegers’ side since Jonas Eidevall resigned in October.

Left-back by trade Catley had been called upon in the centre of defence on occasion under Eidevall, having also featured there for Australia due to injuries elsewhere. 

Under Slegers, Catley has flourished alongside Leah Williamson, and the 30-year-old has also felt physical benefits of her positional switch.

“The running is very different from centre-back to left-back,” said Catley. “I do feel the difference in my body when I finish games, I do feel like I can recover a lot quicker. 

“I am really enjoying it. I think it's something that I've developed quite slowly throughout my career because I've been thrown in at major tournaments at the last minute, but I've never really been able to train the details of it and create partnerships and really understand the role as well as I am now. 

“So I think there's aspects of it that I've really fallen in love with, which has been really enjoyable. I think at my age, you think you know most aspects of the game and what you can get out of it as an individual, so to be at this stage of my career and redefining myself in a way, it's really nice, and I'm really enjoying my football and learning again.”

The Melbourne-born defender also opened up on how she is able to switch off after high-intensity games, such as Arsenal’s 5-0 win over Crystal Palace on Sunday. 

“Every game is different depending on what you're doing travel-wise, but home games are nice and easy,” Catley reflected. “Just do your recovery straight after, and then I go home. 

“I usually have dinner with Beth [Mead]. We walk the dogs, just completely switch off from the game, because sometimes, whether it's good or bad, you can over-analyse straight away.

"So it's good to sort of take yourself out of it, and then the next day, that's all about analysis and recovery and switching on again.”