Today's game day and I think I played well during training and hoping that I'll get some game time. We're starting our season off by playing Brighton at home. We've never lost to Brighton before so I have faith in us to start the season off with a bang and a win. 

The game starts at 7:30 but we have to be there by 5:00 so we have an early morning session to get our legs moving and our circulation flowing correctly. So I woke up and made myself a fruit salad because that's my go-to meal for all 3 meals on game day, I can't eat because I get nervous so I eat a well-balanced meal the night before so my body still gets the minerals it needs to be able to play. 

On the way to the training ground where we were meeting to go over the starting line-up as well as a little session and where the coach would pick us up, Viv let me choose the music. I chose to listen to my playlist called 'Footie', which I always use to listen to before games, on shuffle. The first song to come on was Sorry by Joel Corry.

Once we arrived we joined in with the quick training sessions before heading straight into the meeting room where we would find out who was going to be in our starting line-up was going to be. 

'Sarah, I was wondering if you thought you were ready to start today? You really impressed me with how well you played in practice especially how this is your first professional contract and still very young. Would you like to?' Jonas asked me. 

Leah and Katie, who were standing right next to me, had the biggest grins on their face while looking at me. 'Umm, yes, of course, thank you so much for having faith in me.' I replied still not believing I'm actually starting and on my debut and first game of the season. 'Where do you want me to play?' I asked as in practise I played everywhere but goalkeeper and I did quite well if I do say so myself.

'I know you can pretty much play anywhere and we're gonna use that to our advantage this season and no other team knows that but I was thinking up front on the left wing.' He replied.

'Sounds good,' I say. OMG, I'm actually starting I didn't think this would happen. 

Once the meeting ended everyone came up to me and said their congratulations and we headed to the coach that would take up to our stadium, Meadow Park.

'Are you excited to start today kiddo,' Katie asked me seemingly very excited for me.

'Definitely but it also comes with a lot of nerves,' I told her truthfully.

'You'll be fine, just play like you do in training,' she said before walking onto the bus.

'Leah,' I whispered. 'Can I ask you a kinda weird question?' I asked her nervously.

'Sure anything,' she replied.

'Where can I sit? I don't want to steal anyone else's seat they normally sit it.' I asked causing her to laugh a little.

'You'll be fine,' she managed to get out while still laughing. 'We're the last ones on anyway.'

I ended up sitting next to Caitlin and opposite Lia and Steph.

At the game

We have just finished our warm-up and getting changed and were now waiting in the line in the tunnel. I was at the back and the nerves were 100% kicking in now.

Arsenal line-up

- Manuela Zinsberger

- Laura Wienroither

- Leah Williamson (VC)

- Rafaelle

- Katie McCabe

- Lia Walti

- Kim Little (C)

- Beth Mead

- Vivianne Miedema

- Sarah Mae

- Stina Blackstenius

COMMENTATORS

'Arsenal seems to be starting their newly signed 18-year-old upfront. He must have a lot of faith in her. Do you think that was an odd choice?'

'I mean, he clearly has a lot of faith in her if he has chosen to play her already and starting her. That's a lot of pressure for a young player.'

'I heard that at her previous club, she played everywhere on the pitch but today it seems Jonas is going to play her out on the wing.'

'Let the season begin.'

'Arsenal is through with Blackstenius and..'

'That's gotta be a foul'

'The referee reckons the foul was just outside the box.'

'And it's a straight red for Brighton in the 7th minute of the game.'

'Just wide from Mead'

28' Kim Little scores with an assist from Sarah Mae

'It was definitely the right decision for Jonas to choose Mae to start on her debut into professional football as she's already had an attempt on goal and assisted Arsenal captain Kim Little for a brilliant goal'

HALF TIME 1-0

Sarah's POV

I actually just assisted in the first 30 minutes of the game. I can't believe it.

'You played really well out there you should be really proud of yourself but I need to see more goals...' Jonas said at half time and in no time it was time for the 2nd half and Arsenal aren't making any subs, I'm staying on.

50' GOAL Stina Blackstenius with an assist from Beth Mead

59' Mae will receive a yellow card

63' GOAL Beth Mead scores with a Vivianne Miedema assist

64' Blackstenius and Mae off and Hurtig and Catley on.

Once I got taken off I sat on the bench next to Stina and Jordan over the moon with how I played but disappointed I got a yellow.

77' Miedema and Walti off and Nobbs and Maanum on

83' Williamson off and Wubben-Moy on

83' GOAL Beth Mead with her 2nd of the night with a Jordan Nobbs assist (I know Jordan didn't actually assist but in here she did)

FULL TIME

I've actually just played my first ever professional game and actually assisted. There's defiantly so much I need to improve on but I'm excited to venture further down that path.