Arsenal's Vivianne Miedema named FWA women's footballer of the year

Arsenal’s Vivianne Miedema has been voted women’s footballer of the year by the Football Writers’ Association after a Women’s Super League season in which she scored 16 goals in 14 appearances.

The Netherlands forward got a double hat-trick in the 11-1 win over Bristol City in December and also provided four assists, and is the leading Champions League scorer with 10 goals.

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Miedema took the FWA award by one vote from Chelsea’s Beth England. Lucy Bronze and Guro Reiten were joint-third and Ellen White fifth.

Miedema was the league’s top scorer, two ahead of second-placed England, and ended with the most assists: eight.

Although the WSL season was brought to a premature conclusion by coronavirus, with Chelsea awarded the title on points per game, Miedema and Arsenal could end the campaign as European champions. They play a quarter-final against Paris St-Germain in Spain on 22 August.

Jen O’Neill, chair of the FWA’s women’s sub-committee, said: “Vivianne’s clinical efficiency in front of goal and her seemingly effortless poise can mean her all-round ability and footballing intelligence are sometimes overlooked. She is a worthy winner and a world-class performer.”