'I have been pushed and challenged' - Arsenal's Fox

Emily Fox (centre) scored her first goal at Emirates Stadium in the Champions League against Valerenga in October

Arsenal defender Emily Fox said she has been "pushed and challenged" in a successful first year with the club.

The 26-year-old USA international joined the Gunners from National Women's Soccer League side North Carolina Courage in January.

Arsenal finished third in the Women's Super League and Fox played in the League Cup final in March as they beat Chelsea to retain the trophy.

"The transition was so smooth and I felt right away like it worked," she told BBC Sport as she approaches the anniversary of when she joined the club.

"Coming here, nothing is given in the sense of will you do well, will you not do well? I looked at it as a challenge and I wanted to join a league and be uncomfortable and push myself.

"That is how I look at the success of it. I have been pushed, I have been challenged. Playing in the WSL and against some of the best players in the world, I have been able to embrace that and be a part of it."

Playing at Emirates 'the icing on top'

Fox has fallen in love with playing for Arsenal at Emirates Stadium, which was "the icing on top" in her decision to sign for the club.

Before completing her move to England, she watched from the stands as Arsenal beat Chelsea 4-1 there in front of a record crowd.

"It was just the icing on top in terms of this is where I want to be," added Fox. "It was really inspiring.

"I had gone through all the behind-the-scenes things and I think just watching the team play, experiencing the Emirates, the crowd, how passionate everyone was for women's football and how amazing they all played."

Arsenal's WSL game against Aston Villa on Sunday is their final one at the club's main stadium in 2024.

It will be the 10th time the women's team have played there in this calendar year, with the Gunners having lost just once, to Chelsea in October.

The club made the Emirates the main stadium for the women's team for the 2024-25 campaign.

Eight WSL games are being played there, as well as home games in the Women's Champions League, with the exception of their final Group C game against Bayern Munich, which was moved because of a scheduling clash with the men's team.

Playing at the Emirates hasn't lost its impact for Fox, who said it was a "pinch-me moment" every time she walks out on to the pitch there.

"Here, football is everything," she said. "Everything is about football and the culture is all about football.

"The first time I went to the Emirates watching it and then the first time I played in it, it is so surreal. Especially when my parents came and watched me.

"They didn't grow up playing football so it is more of a pinch-me moment when you have your family come and you are in these amazing stadiums having chants, having sold-out crowds.

"That is when I realised this is pretty amazing and such a unique experience."