Nobbs reveals 'tough moments' but targeting Arsenal silverware alongside Miedema

It has been a difficult summer for Nobbs, who missed the European Championships through injury after spraining a knee ligament back in May for Arsenal against Aston Villa.

England subsequently went on to win their first major tournament in front of a home crowd, with Nobbs' Arsenal teammates Leah Williamson, Beth Mead and Lotte Wubben-Moy all being included as part of Wiegman's squad for the Euros.

To compound matters, it's not the first time that Nobbs has been ruled out of a major tournament through injury either after she also missed the World Cup in 2019 after rupturing her anterior cruciate ligament.

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It's hard not to feel sorry for the 29-year-old after her rotten luck with injuries and speaking exclusively to talkSPORT, the midfielder candidly revealed she had to take some time away from football this summer to focus on her mental health.

Speaking about her England recall, Nobbs said: "It's a huge honour. You feel like a big kid whenever you get that call-up and that's exactly how I felt again. It's a true privilege to ever be a part of that squad and I feel like I've worked hard and I'm just glad to be around the squad again and hopefully, I perform well.

"There was no guarantee that I was going to be selected [for the European Championships]. I think the hardest thing was not being fit to be in those camps leading up to it to at least give myself the best opportunity to get in.

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"It's actually my third tournament injured. I've dealt with setbacks before. I went to the games because I wanted to show that I'm fully behind [the team], whether you start, on the bench or just part of that team.

"My injuries have just been really bad timing. I think mentally, I have gone through some really tough moments. It's like: 'Oh my god, is it happening again?' And probably this one, I did take some time away from football because my mental health is important and I needed a break away.

"That love for football and wearing an Arsenal shirt or an England shirt, that's what always drives me back and that's my motivation every single time."

Two players who won't be involved for England are Ellen White and Jill Scott, who announced their retirements from football last week after helping the Lionesses to Euros glory in the summer.

Both Scott and White won every domestic honour in England during their careers and Nobbs believes the duo should be remembered as legends of the game in the coming years.

"I was lucky enough to play with Ellen at Arsenal and England and Jill at England and they are top professionals, good people and whenever it comes to football and you see stats like what they have, it only comes to people who work as hard as them and are good around the environment and teach others and support each other along the way," she continued.

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"They have been true heroes in the game and they'll be massively missed. But I hope they go and enjoy themselves now and take some time to enjoy the moments they have had because they truly deserve it.

"It's just about not forgetting that they were the people who have allowed us opportunities to have football in a better place.

"They are the ones grafting when nobody's watching and I know that both of them would have been doing runs whether they were at training or not at training. They were that type of person who were proud to play football and very driven. I think it's just [about] remembering them as the true greats of women's football."

After her time away with England, Nobbs' focus will then return to club football with Arsenal who missed out on the Women's Super League title to Chelsea by just a single point last season.

Jonas Eidevall's side kick off the season with a tricky away trip to Manchester City, before taking on Brighton and arch-rivals Tottenham Hotspur - in a game which will be played at the Emirates Stadium - at home in the first month of the season.

The Gunners have brought in goalkeeper Kaylan Marckese and forward Lina Hurtig so far, but the biggest piece of news is that star striker Vivianne Miedema will be remaining with the club after extending her contract earlier this summer.

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"[Miedema's] a top player with unbelievable talent," Nobbs finished.

"Scores goals for fun. Whenever you keep people like her on board, it's only going to help us in training or on the pitch. She'll be a massive part of the team this year.

"We want to win trophies. The history of Arsenal is about bringing back silverware and that's exactly what our aim is. We're not going into this season thinking: 'Ah, it will be great if we finish second again.' We want to finish first and we want to be in cup finals and lifting FA Cup trophies."