Arsenal suffered another injury blow as Laura Wienroither was forced to withdraw from the starting lineup just before their 1-0 victory over Leicester at the King Power Stadium on Sunday.
Wienroither, who was set to make her first start of the season and her 50th appearance for Arsenal, sustained the injury during the warm-up, forcing Jonas Eidevall to make a late change, bringing Emily Fox back in.
Eidevall, who made multiple changes to the starting lineup following a gruelling run of four games in two weeks, confirmed the injury but provided no specific details post-match. “Yeah (it was an injury), that is why we changed but I don’t have an update on that,” Eidevall said, leaving fans concerned about Wienroither’s fitness.
Wienroither was seen leaving the ground on crutches but was reportedly moving relatively freely, displaying only a slight limp offering hope it is nothing serious.
While the setback is disappointing given her recent return from an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury sustained during the UEFA Women’s Champions League semi-final against Wolfsburg in May 2023, which kept her out for almost a year, niggly injuries are common after such a lengthy time on the sidelines.
The 25-year-old Austrian defender, who joined Arsenal from TSG 1899 Hoffenheim in January 2022, has been a key member of the squad, making 47 appearances before her initial ACL injury.
In June 2024, Wienroither signed a new contract with the club, expressing her excitement at continuing her Arsenal journey. “It’s such an incredible feeling for me to put pen to paper once again for the Arsenal.
“I’m so happy to remain at this club and to have the opportunity to continue playing for a football team that I consider home,” she said.
Arsenal’s defensive injury crisis now deepens with Wienroither joining Steph Catley and Leah Williamson on the sidelines.
With the only available defender on the bench against Leicester City being 18-year-old Katie Reid, Arsenal’s defensive options are becoming increasingly stretched.
The team now awaits further updates on Wienroither’s condition as they prepare for their next match which comes against Everton at The Emirates on Sunday, 6 October with a 2pm kick-off.