Arsenal boss Jonas Eidevall reveals Leah Williamson 'plan' after returning Lionesses star is unused substitute in WSL win over Liverpool

The Lionesses defender returned to the Gunners' squad after 280 days against Reading in the Conti Cup as she completed her gruelling recovery from the injury. She even got some playing time in the game and provided an assist, setting up international team-mate Beth Mead. However, she failed to make her WSL return in the 2-0 win over Liverpool. After the game, head coach Eidevall revealed why the central defender did not play.

"You always have a plan, Leah was available to play today but not for many minutes. Sometimes that opportunity comes and sometimes, today, I felt we needed other things to manage the game. It’s not going to be in reserve, we don’t need to push. Now she has the opportunity for a great training week ahead of her and competing for minutes against West Ham."

Eidevall did reveal his delight at having his key defender back in the ranks, though: "It’s incredible, i said to the squad afterwards what a privilege it is to work with a squad of this quality. To see the players we start and the quality they have and see the players we bring on and even the players that don’t come on and how much quality I know they have. They, at this moment, probably don’t feel that it’s amazing per se that they don’t come in but it puts us in a strong position if we want to compete in all competitions. I think we have been slow starters after the winter break so we tried to change, we went to Portugal and we played a friendly game and I think we manage this winter break the best of the three seasons I have been here and we need to continue."

The Gunners will be very happy to see Williamson back in the fold as they sit third in the league behind Chelsea and Manchester City. They currently sit level on points with the Citizens and just three points off Emma Hayes' Chelsea side who lead the league.

It is likely that Williamson will be involved with the Gunners when they take on West Ham in the Women's Super League on Sunday, February 4. They also hope that she will be fit enough to start on February 11 when they take on Manchester City in a crucial FA Cup fifth-round clash.