Arsenal boss Jonas Eidevall admitted he “does not know” the extent of Lionesses skipper Leah Williamson’s injury after the defender was forced off in the Gunners’ 1-0 defeat to Manchester United.
Less than 15 minutes into the WSL heavyweight clash on Wednesday night, the 26-year-old was replaced after falling awkwardly while chasing possession and ostensibly sustaining a knee injury.
Williamson immediately signalled to be taken off. Despite a stretcher brought onto the pitch, a limping Williamson walked off the pitch to a loud applause. She was later seen emerging from the tunnel on crutches.
And Eidevall implied after Arsenal’s 1-0 loss to their title rivals that a combination of the home side’s pitch surface and a gruelling fixture schedule played a role in the defender’s injury.
"Of course it's not good that she had to come off," said Eidevall.
"You see the pitch, it is a pitch that has a lot more to [be desired]. I think it's going to continue here with the schedule we have and pitches like that, players are going to get injured.
"That is something that we all need to improve on, the facilities where we play, so we can keep the players on the pitch."
Williamson’s injury arrives three months before England’s World Cup campaign, which begins on 22 July when the Lionesses face Haiti. England are already without Ballon d'Or runner-up Beth Mead, while Chelsea defender Millie Bright has also been on crutches with a knee injury sustained in March.
It also notches another injury concern for Eidevall's depleted squad. Williamson was playing in midfield against United to compensate for the absence of stalwart Kim Little, who suffered a season-ending knee injury earlier in the week.
But the injury woes would not allay for Arsenal, as Frida Maanum was also forced off against United in the first half after tweaking her ankle.
Injury to Maanum, who had scored four goals in Arsenal's five previous matches, serves another cruel blow to Arsenal’s already depleted attacking ranks following injuries to Mead and last season’s top scorer Vivianne Miedema.
And Eidevall, who issued a scathing critique of the game’s poor management of marquee players earlier in the week in light of Arsenal’s perceived disparity in fixture scheduling, admitted that the copious injuries and absences in Wednesday night’s fixture proved too formidable for his side.
"We spoke about that before the game, that we have managed very well so far this season, having players missing," said Eidevall.
"But I think with all things accumulating here, with suspended players and Leah [Williamson] coming off injured, it was one absence too many for us."
The 1-0 defeat at Leigh Sports Village leaves Arsenal six points adrift of WSL leaders with five games remaining but with a game in hand.
And Arsenal will not have much reprieve before facing Wolfsburg in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final on Sunday.
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