WALTI UNDERGOES KNEE SURGERY
As reported in last week’s round-up Lia Walti’s season is over after the Swiss international underwent surgery to reconstruct her lateral collateral ligament (LCL). Wälti was injured in a behind closed doors friendly for her country against Canada in January and was initially only supposed to be missing for 4-6 weeks.
However, her comeback was delayed by a series of setbacks as her knee failed to respond to treatment. Wälti underwent surgery last week in London and will be missing for a few months. She is unlikely to be available for the start of next season too.
Best of luck in your recovery, @LiaWaelti ❤️#WeAreTheArsenal https://t.co/cm97yjJmu0
— Arsenal Women (@ArsenalWFC) April 11, 2019
HAO ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT AT THE END OF THE NWSL SEASON
Former Gunners winger and USWNT legend Heather O’Reilly has announced this season will be her last as a professional footballer. O’Reilly left Arsenal for North Carolina Courage last summer after a two year stint in North London. O’Reilly, affectionately known as ‘HAO’, has won three Olympic gold medals and a World Cup with her country.
She was part of Arsenal’s Conti Cup winning side of last season too. The NWSL season got under way at the weekend. HAO will miss a chunk of the season with North Carolina to travel to France and be a pundit for Fox Sports at this summer’s World Cup, suggesting that media work could represent the next phase of her career. You can read our exclusive interview with Heather shortly before she left Arsenal here.
Thank you @ArsenalWFC! My time there was incredibly special. Now go win the league! https://t.co/XxemtwyrWO
— Heather O'Reilly (@HeatherOReilly) April 13, 2019
MEADO WINS WSL PLAYER OF THE MONTH
Arsenal forward Beth Mead has been voted as the WSL Player of the Month for March, after two goals and an assist in her 3 games. Mead was on the score sheet twice in the 5-1 win over Liverpool and teed up Vivianne Miedema in the 4-0 win at home to Bristol. Beth leads the WSL for assists this season with ten, having moved into a wide attacking role under Joe Montemurro.
? Here's why @BMeado9 was voted @FAWSL Player of the Month for March ?#WeAreTheArsenal ? pic.twitter.com/Q6s1y8XXiB
— Arsenal Women (@ArsenalWFC) April 11, 2019
Manager Joe Montemurro also scooped up the LMA Manager of the Month award for March. Mead, Leah Williamson and Dominique Bloodworth were all nominated for the PFA’s March Player of the Month award. The winner will be announced on Monday evening.
INTERNATIONAL ROUND UP
Last week was a very fruitful one for Gunners on international duty. Vivianne Miedema moved within two goals of her country’s all time goal scoring record as she was on the score sheet in Netherlands’ 7-0 thrashing of Chile. It was her 100th goal for Netherlands across all age groups. But the night really belonged to Danielle van de Donk, who scored four goals in the game. Miedema, van de Donk, Bloodworth and van Veenendaal have all been selected in Netherlands’ World Cup squad, though van Veenendaal is unlikely to be an Arsenal player next season.
Het gaat om de teamprestatie maar @DanielleDonk was toch wel de vrouw van de wedstrijd -> ⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️
Bekijk hier de hele samenvatting: https://t.co/0Nm2TMEhXM#OnzeJacht #NEDCHI pic.twitter.com/mEpex2axLR
— OranjeLeeuwinnen (@oranjevrouwen) April 10, 2019
Kim Little scored the winner for Scotland as they defeated Brazil 1-0 in Spain where Lisa Evans was a second half substitute. Katie McCabe opened the scoring for Ireland in their 2-1 defeat to Italy, Louise Quinn also played in that game. While Beth Mead scored her third goal in five England matches as the Lionesses beat Spain 2-1 in Swindon. Leah Williamson played 90 minutes of that match. Katrine Veje played 90 minutes of Denmark’s 4-0 defeat to France and Viki Schnaderbeck played the final minutes of Austria’s 1-0 defeat to Sweden, her first international appearance in almost a year.
How satisfying is this @bmeado9 finish? ? pic.twitter.com/TLebUsqWfl
— Lionesses (@Lionesses) April 10, 2019
EVERTON TICKETS ON SALE UNTIL THURSDAY
A reminder that there will be no tickets on sale at the turnstile for this Sunday’s home match against Everton. Arsenal can move within one win of the title by beating second bottom Toffees at Meadow Park. Due to improvement works taking place at the North End of the ground, the capacity is restricted to 2,200 and tickets will not be sold on the day. You can buy them online until Thursday at the link below.
? Tickets for our @FAWSL clash with @EvertonLadies are on sale till Thursday, April 18 ?#WeAreTheArsenal https://t.co/mWlpbxsMUi
— Arsenal Women (@ArsenalWFC) April 12, 2019
Tickets remain on sale for the away match at Brighton the following week, where Arsenal could seal the WSL title. The match will take place at the AMEX Stadium and kicks off at 12.15pm on Sunday, 28th April. Tickets are available below, Arsenal Women members will be entitled to two extra free tickets.
Tickets now on sale for Arsenal Women’s game against Brighton & Hove Albion at the AMEX on 28th April- where Arsenal could seal the league title. £3 adults, £1 concessions. https://t.co/U0nOV5lMZ5
— Tim Stillman (@Stillberto) April 4, 2019
COMING UP
We will have a full match preview for Sunday’s home clash against Everton on the site on Friday afternoon, as well as exclusive player reaction online on Sunday evening. We will also have a preview and full match reaction for the Brighton game too. The April edition of the Arsenal Women Arsecast will go out on Monday, 29th April with two very, very special guests, so keep them peeled
Brilliant round up! Our girls need t9 d what our boys couldn’t earlier this month – win against Everton. Winning the league title despite the financial might of Man C will restore my faith in the magic of football.
sorry for the typo. ‘It should have read ‘our girls need to do…’
I was chipper before I started reading this and am now v upset. Lia’s ligaments…missing the start of next season as well… *sinks to knees, rages at sky* and then I find out Sari is off… Don’t do this to me, Tim. I can’t bear it. Is it because PP-M has come in?
Apart from that, wonderful stuff and big congrats to DVD and Beth Mead (We’ve got the best Beth!) for their respective achievements. Everything crossed for Sunday.
Sneaky smirk at Chelsea getting knocked out of the FA Cup. Awful way for to happen.
It clearly hasn’t been confirmed, but there are rumours that Sari will be leaving and that we’ll get a new goalkeeper (who I hope will be first keeper). Pauline has obviously taken the number one spot, I’d argue undeservedly.
But this sees Sari playing the less important games and having not enough rythmn to get the first keeper spot in the national team, which she had solidly for years – even making her the captain of the team not too long ago.
Rather “dark humour” the Weak at the Knees quip, Tim….AWFC knee ligament injuries seem to come at 3 monthly intervals!!! Dan C, May. Viktoria, July. Jordan, October ( or November!). Lia, January. Oh Tabea, not sure. Didn’t she sign already carrying a knee injury? Anyway, unless anyone can come up with any other suggestion perhaps Emma Hayes has had her pins and voodoo dolls lined up. Apart from these musings I enjoyed reading the roundup & all the positives. Although, as mentioned by Fun Gunner, the observation about Sari leaving did make me feel a bit sad. Sari came in… Read more »