Arsenal star Leah Williamson reveals Beth Mead's spooky pre-game prediction came true as Lionesses' captain provides assist on return from ACL injury

The England international, who captained the Lionesses to European Championship glory in 2022, has been out of action since damaging knee ligaments in April 2023. A long road to recovery has been taken in since then, with Williamson forced to sit out England’s run to the Women’s World Cup final last year.

She has, however, made a welcome return to competitive action – with 29 minutes seen off the bench when being introduced as a second-half substitute in a League Cup clash with Reading. Williamson teed up England colleague Mead for Arsenal’s fifth goal in a 6-0 rout.

Williamson told Sky Sports afterwards of Mead foreseeing that assist, and how she is now targeting an international recall: “I think she (Mead) gave me an assist, I can’t claim anything to do with that goal whatsoever. She said to me in training, ‘If you come on and I’m on, kick it over the top, and I’ll volley it in.’ That’s actually what she said, so I’d say that is pretty on point. I love playing football for Arsenal; everyone knows how much I love the club. I’m going to get emotional if I talk about it too much, but I’m just happy to be back, and I don’t know, try and help my team. I’ve missed playing for England, so hopefully, I can get myself back in contention and see what happens.”

Williamson has earned 43 caps for her country, claiming Euros and Finalissima honours along the way, and can expect to be drafted straight back into Sarina Wiegman’s plans once she has worked her way towards full match sharpness at Arsenal.