I stumbled across a passage recently by James Clear, one of those writers I turn to when I need to find motivation. His words are usually about habits, progress, growth. But this time, it felt different. He wrote:

“Great leaders are also great teammates. They lead with their heart instead of their ego. They put the mission of the team before their needs as an individual. And they realise that it’s more important to be there for their teammates than to be revered by their teammates.”

I read it and immediately thought: that’s Kim Little.

If you know me, you know I find a way to bring football into almost everything. It’s how I make sense of the world. Football runs through my veins. It’s in how I think, how I feel, how I write. And when I read the line — “They lead with their heart instead of their ego” — it was like someone handed me the missing sentence I needed to begin this piece.

But truthfully, I’ve wanted to write this piece for a long time. Way before Kim Little was deservedly handed the Player of the Match award in that monumental 4–1 Champions League semi-final win over Lyon. Even before she signed that contract extension, a moment that, for many Arsenal fans, should’ve been met with joy, not the unnecessary criticism that clouded it.

Because here’s the thing: Kim Little isn’t just a great footballer. She’s the heart of this club.

She’s 34 now, which, let’s be clear, is not “old” by any measure, but the fact that she’s still one of the first names on the team sheet, still setting the standard in midfield, still rising on the biggest stage, it says everything about who she is. She joined Arsenal in 2008, back when we were still basking in our European championship. Across the years, barring a few seasons away, she’s become more than just a player. She’s become part of Arsenal’s identity.

Little made the decision to step away from international football in 2021, choosing to focus on Arsenal and her club career. Kim’s always the first one in training and the last to leave. While most players are off with their national teams during breaks, she’s not taking time off — she’s in the gym, on the pitch, putting in the work. There’s no need for attention or accolades; she just quietly gets on with it. And in doing so, she sets the standard for everyone else around her, showing what true dedication looks like, no matter the occasion.

She doesn’t chase headlines. She’s not one to post every move on Instagram or seek the spotlight. She just shows up, every week, every game, every season — and she delivers. Quietly. Consistently. Like only the very best do.

When the final whistle blew against Lyon, Leah Williamson didn’t run to the crowd or the cameras. She looked for Kim. That alone tells you everything. Leah praised her captain’s leadership, her class, and how she deserves more nights like that. Champions League finals, trophies, recognition. The kind she hasn’t always received, but unquestionably earned.

Maybe it’s by choice. Maybe Kim wasn’t concerned with the limelight or the attention. But her teammates? They know. The fans? We know. She leads with grace, with strength, and with that calm authority that doesn’t need to shout to be heard. She leads by doing — by playing the Arsenal way, by being available, adaptable, and irreplaceable.

I remember at the start of the season, there was uncertainty. Injuries, fresh midfield talent breaking through. Questions about her place in the squad. But Kim Little has never been anyone’s competition. She’s their compass. Their role model. She is the blueprint of what it means to wear the Arsenal shirt in midfield.

Watch her protect the ball, calm and collected, shaping the game around her. See how a single pass from her can change the course of a match. Watch her step up and score when it counts the most. You’re watching a true master at work.

“If you’ve played with her or played against, she’s number one.” - Jen Beattie

“There’s no one in this squad that’s even close to it because it takes a certain type of person.” - Leah Williamson

“Even back then they were talking about her in the same way we talk about her now.” 

“She’s pretty much irreplaceable.”

It’s been eighteen long years since Arsenal reached a Champions League final — and now, with Kim Little leading the way, we’re here again.

Captain. Leader. Arsenal through and through.

There’s only one Kimmy Little. And I’m so glad we get to witness her story unfold in red and white.