Key Takeaways
- Lotte Wubben-Moy kept Spain scoreless in her first Lionesses start since 2023.
- The Arsenal defender has now stepped in for injured captain Leah Williamson at both club and country.
- Wubben-Moy says yoga, data teams and cyclist Tao Geoghegan Hart help her stay ready.
Lotte Wubben-Moy has waited four years for another chance to start for England. On Tuesday night in the 1-0 win over Spain she showed why the patience was worth it.
With regular captain Leah Williamson sidelined by injury, the 27-year-old partnered Esme Morgan at the heart of defence and helped the Lionesses record a clean sheet in a crucial World Cup qualifier.
Coach Sarina Wiegman praised the pair afterwards. “They have not played much together, but the training work paid off,” she said. “Both were ready and that tells you about their character.”
The call-up was Wubben-Moy’s first start since 2023, yet she looked calm on the ball and strong in the air against the European champions.
Club form backs up the display. This season she has already started 23 matches for Arsenal, a jump from 13 in the previous campaign. During that run she has paired with different partners: Williamson, Steph Catley, Laia Codina and even full-back Katie McCabe when injuries bit in the Champions League quarter-finals.
Success is familiar to the London-born centre-back. She owns more than 100 Arsenal appearances, four domestic cups and a Champions League winners’ medal from her first spell at the club. She was also part of the England squads that lifted the Euro 2022 trophy and reached the 2023 World Cup final, even though she did not get on the pitch in either event.
After the Spain match Wubben-Moy spoke of the long road. “My path has never been smooth,” she admitted. “Injuries and competition with Leah meant fewer chances, but every setback taught me something. I feel stronger, fitter and more confident now.”
To stay sharp she studies her own game. In 2023-24 she hired outside analysts to track stats that match Arsenal’s “DNA” and worked closely with then-assistant coach Renee Slegers. Yoga sessions and gym tips from partner Tao Geoghegan Hart, a professional cyclist, have added extra edge.
Community work also fuels her. Through her programme “Lots to Explore” she visits schools and urges youngsters to live “with intention”, the same mantra she uses on the pitch.
“I prepare every day like I will start,” she said. “When the call comes, you are not catching up; you are already there.”
Williamson’s return date is unclear, but Wubben-Moy has proved she can fill the void. For club and country, the stand-in is now a serious option instead of just a back-up name on the teamsheet.