‘The ACL crew!’ - Lionesses star Beth Mead celebrates Leah Williamson’s Arsenal return alongside Vivianne Miedema & fellow long-term injury sufferers

The Gunners have had several players sidelined with an anterior cruciate ligament injury in the last couple of years. Vivianne Miedema had to be carried off on a stretcher after she ruptured her ACL during a Champions League game against Lyon in December 2022. Whereas, Mead was sidelined for 11 months after she suffered the same injury a month earlier than Miedema. Williamson joined her teammates in the treatment room in March 2023which saw her miss the FIFA Women's World Cup last summer along with Mead.

Right-back Laura Wienroither also picked up an ACL injury during a Champions League semi-final against Wolfsburg and is still undergoing rehabilitation. The list continues as 25-year-old American goalkeeper Kaylan Marckese got injured while she was out on loan to Bristol City against Aston Villa in November 2023.

Mead posted a dressing room picture along with her teammates and wrote: "The ACL crew, so proud of you all".

@bethmead_ Instagram

Women footballers are reported to be six times more likely to suffer ACL injuries compared to their male counterparts, according to a Sky Sports report. Additionally, female footballers face a 25 per cent lower likelihood of fully recovering and returning from ACL injuries.

Mead and Co. will hope to remain injury-free for the rest of the campaign as they are fighting for a domestic treble. They are third in the WSL standings, just three points behind leaders Chelsea, finished as group leaders in the FA Women's League Cup and are still alive in the Women's FA Cup. They will be back in action against Liverpool on Sunday in a league fixture.