Beth Mead admits that Arsenal need to get back to ‘free-flowing football’ and is hopeful that the team can do just that against her former side, Sunderland, on Sunday.

Arsenal go into the game under new management, although Joe Montemurro will not be present at the game as he finalises moving his life from Australia to London

Speaking to the Sunderland Echo ahead of the game, Mead said, “I think Arsenal is a club known for free-flowing football, playing the ball and being calm on it, and I think we’ve been doing the opposite of that at the moment.

“I think we need to dig deep and find that again to really bring out the performances.

“I think it has been tough as we’ve been trying out different personnel, as well as different formations.

“The girls have been trying their best to get used to it but I think we need some more consistency within everyone in the team, as well as in the quality on the pitch.

“I am sure we’ll be able to bring that quality back out again in the next game against Sunderland.”

With Reading facing Chelsea, who have not dropped a point nor conceded a goal all season, a win for Arsenal offers them a great chance to move clear in third.

Liverpool’s win over Birmingham on Saturday pushed Arsenal down to fifth, but three points would jump them back up the table again.