Arsenal captain Leah Williamson will miss the women’s World Cup after rupturing her anterior cruciate ligament in a Women’s Super League match against Manchester United.
Williamson, 26, was carried off the field by medical staff 12 minutes into their 1-0 loss to United on Wednesday.
Her ACL injury is a major setback for European champions England, who start the World Cup in July.
“Leah will start rehab and be sidelined for a while.” “She will have surgery,” Arsenal stated Friday.
Arsenal is third in the league, six points behind champions United, and in the Champions League semi-finals against VfL Wolfsburg on Sunday. The injury hurts Arsenal’s chances.
Arsenal lost captain Kim Little to a hamstring injury and attacker Vivianne Miedema to an ACL injury in December.
After surgery, Netherlands’ record goalscorer Miedema said she would miss the World Cup.
Arsenal women’s manager Jonas Eidevall blamed the Leigh Sports Village pitch for Williamson’s injury.
“If you see the pitch… it is a pitch that has a lot more to ask for and I think it’s going to continue here with the playing schedule,” he remarked after the game.
Players will get hurt on pitches like that. If we want to keep players on the pitch, we must improve our playing facilities.”
Last month, England manager Sarina Wiegman stated it would take a “miracle” for Arsenal striker and Euros top scorer Beth Mead to play in the event.
