By Rachel Gore 2/2/2024
Above: Vivienne Miedema celebrates her first goal for Arsenal since returning from injury. Photo: Arsenal FC.
Last week, 22 to 28 January, attention was on Arsenal as they reached milestones, had players return from injury, and scored a total of seven goals.
Arsenal’s FA Women’s Continental Tyres League Cup match against reading was a night to remember for Arsenal. The match saw them go through to the quarter finals of this tournament with a 5-0 victory, and also included the return of two of the club’s most valued players.
Williamson’s much anticipated return to the pitch came on Wednesday 24 January.
Nine months after her ACL injury, Williamson came off the bench at 61 minutes to substitute for Jen Beattie. McCabe handed Williamson the captain’s armband and the defender seamlessly fitted back into the team.
Less than 20 minutes after she ran onto the pitch, she assisted Beth Mead’s goal. Mead hit the ball she had received from Williamson into the net from the edge of the box, for many fans this moment was the highlight of the match – Mead and Williamson both suffered ACL injuries last season and now they are back playing quality football with the Arsenal squad.
This Conti Cup game not only saw the return of Williamson, but also the return of Kim Little.
Arsenal’s captain came on as a substitute for McCabe at 71 minutes, following time off due to a foot injury. Once more Arsenal’s captain changed and Williamson placed the armband on Little.
For Little this match was extremely significant as it marked her 300th appearance for Arsenal. She is only the 6th player to have reached this milestone.
Little signed her first contract with Arsenal in 2008 and scored her first goal for the club at the Emirates Stadium against Chelsea that year – at this game Williamson was a mascot.
Later in the week, on Sunday 28 January, Jonas Eidevall reached his own milestone; he managed his 100th game for Arsenal.
Since signing for the club in 2021, he has led the squad to finish second in the WSL in 2022 and to victory in last season’s Conti Cup.
Sunday’s game resulted in a 2-0 victory over Liverpool for Eidevall’s side and the points the club gained have led Arsenal to sit in third position in the WSL table.
The first of the goals in this game was scored by Vivianne Miedema. Her first goal back since her ACL injury was scored in a friendly match played behind closed doors, making this her first competitive goal in 413 days.
Assisted by one of Arsenal’s new signings Emily Fox, Miedema fired the ball into the net. It was a gorgeous goal and served as a reminder as to why Miedema is such a respected player.
After 11 months out after her ACL injury, which occurred in October fans had been waiting to celebrate a goal from the club legend.
In an interview with Sky Sports Miedema said, “something over Christmas shifted my mindset and after winter I’ve been feeling more like myself again.”
Another Arsenal player who suffered an ACL injury last season was Laura Wienroither.
Wienroither was Arsenal’s fourth player to be forced to take months out due to this major injury and fans are still awaiting her return.
However, on 26 January she was photographed in team training, she posted pictures on her Instagram with the caption, “getting closer”.
Wienroither’s impending return is exciting and her involvement in team training is another monumental moment for Arsenal that occurred last week.
Arsenal’s comeback is well and truly underway; last seasonnumerous players at the club suffered with injuries but the majority of them have now returned.
The week beginning 22 January was clearly a memorable one for the club and has given fans hope for Arsenal’s upcoming games.
Momentum has kept building following on from last week as the beginning of this week saw Sarah Bouhaddi, the French goalkeeper, sign for the club as a free agent.
The remainder of the 23/24 season is set to be a big one for Arsenal as the squad will be hoping to keep gaining points in the WSL, carry on progressing in the FA Cup, and retain their Conti Cup title.
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