Leah Williamson makes competitive return in Arsenal victory after ACL injury
Leah Williamson returned to the competitive fold on Wednesday evening for the first time in nine months during Arsenal's 6-0 Conti Cup victory over Reading.
The England skipper was one of many high-profile women's footballers to suffer an anterior cruciate ligament injury last season in what many players dubbed an 'epidemic'.
Her injury, sustained in a Women's Super League match against Manchester United less than two weeks after leading European champions England to victory over Brazil in the Finalissima at Wembley, compounded an already thread-bare Gunners squad in the final throes of the 2022/23 season.
The Euro2022 winner was also forced to miss the Women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand as she embarked on a long recovery journey.
Arsenal boss Jonas Eidevall issued a positive update on Williamson earlier this month, suggesting that a return to the competitive fold could be on the cards in the next month for the 26-year-old.
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But Gunners and England fans were treated to something even better as Williamson was subbed into the action on the hour mark as Arsenal led the hosts 4-0. Williamson was immediately handed the captain's armband by team-mate Katie McCabe.
The sight of Williamson back on the pitch will no doubt please England boss Sarina Wiegman, who has been forced to navigate choppy waters without her first choice defenders in Millie Bright and Williamson due to respective injuries.
Williamson's potential return was teed up by Arsenal's social media team on Wednesday, who posted a video to TikTok of Williamson's red and white shirt hanging in the changing room amongst her team-mates' to mark the first time Williamson has been included in the matchday squad since sustaining her injury.
Williamson's return represents a major boost for Eidevall's side, who have relished the gradual return of numerous key players from injury including star striking duo Beth Mead and Vivianne Miedema who also suffered ACL injuries last season.
The Gunners currently sit third in the WSL table, level on points with Manchester City and three points behind reigning champions Chelsea.
After failing to qualify for the Women's Champions League, Arsenal are still competing on all domestic fronts, with their defence of their Conti Cup title proceeding on Wednesday.
Leah Williamson receives medical treatment during the WSL match against Manchester United (Photo by Alex Livesey - The FA/The FA via Getty Images)Williamson has been outspoken during her recovery on the injury crisis plaguing women's football. A total of 37 players missed last summer’s Women’s World Cup because of ACL injuries alone, while Sam Kerr's recent sustaining of the injury earlier this month offered a timely reminder of the issue's staying power.
And Williamson recently told FIFA and UEFA that the congested fixture scheduling for women's football will only further jeopardise the game amid the precarious spike in injuries.
"We’re not bred for this. Nowadays we get to October and girls are saying, ‘I’m tired’ because you’re carrying so much from the previous season," the defender said.
“Ultimately, I think the way you’re taking women’s football right now, you won’t be able to increase the ticket prices or get bigger crowds in the stadiums because you won’t have players to watch. We are driving ourselves into the ground with it, so some sort of solution needs to be found soon, in terms of the schedule, otherwise it’s not sustainable.”
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