Arsenal Women manager Jonas Eidevall says Leah Williamson is ‘logically’ addressing her World Cup-ending ACL injury while Jen Beattie adds her team-mate is ‘devastated’ but the team will rally around her. ‘She.
Williamson was injured in Wednesday’s WSL loss to Manchester United, and it was confirmed two days later that she had ruptured her ligament and would need surgery to repair it .
Although Arsenal did not give a time frame for her return, the Lionesses captain confirmed in an emotional statement on social media that she will not be taking part in the World Cup.
It’s another blow in the Gunners’ bid to add more trophies to their cabinet this season. They are locked in a thrilling WSL title race and will face Wolfsburg in the semi-final of the Women’s Champions League on Sunday.
However, they have been without key strikers Beth Mead and Vivianne Miedema since the end of 2022, with captain Kim Little out for the rest of the season – revealed just two days before Williamson’s injury.
Speaking ahead of their trip to Germany, Eidevall revealed how Williamson is handling his devastating injury. Immediately after the game, he criticized the conditions at the WSL pitches, but added on Saturday that any long-term injury had many layers of different explanations.
He explained: “It’s a very difficult injury, but she makes sense about it. She’s been on the training ground, which is great for keeping in touch with the team and the people around you.
“Now he has to go through the long-term injury process like this, have all the processes in the right order and make sure she has the support around her to continue her journey and do it as well. as possible.
“I said I didn’t think the pitch was perfect (on Wednesday). But what causes injuries like this is multi-faceted. It is a combined load, physically and mentally, of good luck and bad luck at that time. You can never know exactly why you got into that position with the knee.
“What’s important for the future when you look at these injuries, we have to see where the sport is going and we can see there are more competitive games, it’s more intense than ever and we know that It’s a development and it’s only going to increase.
“There are new demands for players and teams and we have to adapt to this reality. We want to be in all the big competitions, we love playing those games, that’s where we want to be at a club like Arsenal, have the ability to do that and compete here.
“Then we have to find a way to keep all the players as healthy as possible so they can contribute on the pitch. »
Williamson’s Arsenal team-mate Beattie added how upset the defender was to miss some key moments for club and country. Beattie herself missed Scotland’s inaugural European Championships in 2017 after damaging ankle ligaments.
“She’s hollowed out, like all of us,” the former Scotland international said of Williamson.
“Having Kim’s injury and Leah’s aftermath in quick succession isn’t great for any team, especially at this point in the season. But that’s what teams are for, she knows she has all the support in the world.
“She is devastated, but everyone will rally behind her and she has all the support and resources she needs at Arsenal.
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Highlights of the WSL game between Manchester United and Arsenal
“It’s always difficult. She had an amazing year last year, getting the captaincy for England and playing the way she did, that weight on her shoulders and the leadership that she showed at such a young age with so many pressure. To keep winning (the Euros) with the Lionesses is an incredible achievement and she would have liked to go to the World Cup with that momentum.
“She’s disgusted but it’s sport, it’s part and parcel. It’s one of the most awful and heartbreaking things about it, but she has an incredible head on her shoulders and already looks at it logically, which is a huge credit to her and those around her. ‘She.
“In training there is always the possibility to stop and check (on injured players), but the games are totally different. You have to move on and you are still fighting for the outcome.
“For me, I was still warming up (when Williamson was injured against Man Utd) so I was well aware of what was going on. I tried to go into the locker room and see if she was okay.
“From a human point of view, you don’t want to see anyone suffer or see a stretcher on the ground. It’s an automatic ‘are they okay’ and human instinct kicks in. You want your mate to be okay and we all rallied around her right away. »
‘Williamson can still make an impact off the pitch’
It’s clear Arsenal and England will miss Williamson’s presence as she begins the long road to recovery, with Eidevall and Beattie providing a glimpse of what the defender brings to a team.
They also both agree that even if a player is injured they can still be vital to a team, especially in a tight-knit team like Arsenal.
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Former England international Karen Carney gives her reaction on how the Lionesses will react to Leah Williamson’s injury setback
“His mentality, his ability to communicate in pressure situations,” Beattie explained. “It shows a lot of captains – we see a lot of things with Kim and Leah showing that so much from England and coming to Arsenal.
“When Kim was injured, Leah took on the midfield role, but it’s the vocal energy, her ability to find solutions in very high pressure situations. This is what we will miss the most.
“The way Beth Mead and Viv Miedema have shown with their big injuries, they can still have an impact off the pitch. I have no doubt that Leah will follow and have a big impact off the pitch. »
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Manchester City head coach Gareth Taylor and Chelsea’s Emma Hayes both express their disappointment with Arsenal defender Leah Williamson after she was ruled out of the World Cup with a ruptured ACL
Eidevall added, “We will miss Leah, just like we miss Beth and Viv.
“But it’s also about always looking forward as a club and unfortunately injuries are part of elite sport and we still have to manage to keep going, both as individuals and as a group. , accept that and make the best of the situation.
“It’s been part of our success this season that even though the players have been injured and haven’t been able to contribute on the pitch, it’s always been a strong group with people who are very invested and still contributing.
“I know Leah will too. Kim, our captain, travels with the team to show his support and it shows the players’ commitment to this team. »
Williamson confirms ‘World Cup dream is over’ after ACL breakup
Williamson has confirmed his “World Cup dream is over” after rupturing his ACL. Arsenal have not set a timeframe for Williamson’s recovery, but ACL injuries typically rule players out for at least six months, and she won’t be able to lead the Lionesses at the Women’s World Cup in Australia and Nova Scotia. Zeeland, which will take place from July 20 to August 20. .
Head coach Sarina Wiegman names her squad at the end of May and England’s opener is against Haiti on Saturday July 22 in Brisbane.
Williamson released a statement on social media saying, “Until I have the words to properly express my feelings, I will struggle to verbalize them. The noise around the situation is quite loud and I need quiet to let it all in.
“Unfortunately the World Cup and Champions League dream is over for me and everyone will think that’s the main goal, but that’s the day-to-day of what I’m about to experience. which is the most exhausting of my thoughts. »
Why are ACL injuries so common in women’s football?
Female soccer players are up to six times more likely to suffer an ACL injury than their male counterparts, and Inside the WSL sat down with players, physios and doctors to try to find out why.
Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon for a women’s club to announce that a player will be sidelined due to a torn ACL.
The issue was also highlighted during the European Championships in the summer. Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas missed the tournament after rupturing her ACL days before Spain’s opener. Simone Magill also suffered the same injury in Northern Ireland’s tournament opener against Norway, just days after signing for Aston Villa.
France striker Marie-Antoinette Katoto also limped in their second group game against Belgium, having also ruptured her ACL. She had been one of the favorites to win the Euro 2022 Golden Boot.
You could keep rattling off the names of female players who have gone through the long process of ACL rehabilitation, but so far very little scientific research has been done on why women are more likely to suffer the injury than men.
