Arsenal Women have been dealt another major injury blow after defender Laura Wienroither ruptured her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in the Gunners' Champions League semi-final clash with Wolfsburg.
Wienroither was substituted after going down off the ball in Monday's narrow second-leg defeat to the German giants at the Emirates Stadium. And Arsenal have now confirmed the Austria international has ruptured her ACL and will need to undergo surgery.
"Laura was substituted in the 82nd minute of our UEFA Women’s Champions League semi-final and has subsequently undergone testing to determine the extent of the injury," a club statement read on Thursday.
"Laura will undergo surgery in due course and will be sidelined for an extended period. Everyone at the club will now be supporting Laura and working hard to support her recovery and return to action."
Wienroither is the fourth Arsenal Women's player to rupture her ACL this term, with attacking duo Beth Mead and Vivianne Miedema and England captain Leah Williamson all currently sidelined with the same injury.
The quartet are not the only absentees for Arsenal, who have had to make do with a severely depleted squad for much of the campaign. Captain Kim Little has been out of action since March with a hamstring injury which will prevent her from featuring for the Gunners again this season.
Meanwhile, winger Caitlin Foord hasn't featured since Arsenal's Women's Super League defeat to Manchester City on April 2; the Australia international having limped off in the 36th minute with a hamstring injury.
Arsenal's ceaseless injury woes mean their hopes of Champions League qualification for next season are hanging by a thread. The Gunners are currently fourth in the table, nine points off league leaders Manchester United, although Jonas Eidevall's side do have two games in hand in both United and second-placed Manchester City.
Arsenal will return to WSL action with the visit of relegation-threatened Leicester City to Meadow Park on Friday night.
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