Big blow for Arsenal! Leah Williamson to miss start of new WSL season after undergoing knee surgery following injury in England's Euro 2025 triumph

Williamson limped off injured in extra time as England beat Sweden in the Euro 2025 quarter-finals and although she was able to play in the subsequent wins over both Italy and Spain as the Lionesses' retained their European title, she sustained an issue which will now see her miss the start of the new Women's Super League season.

Williamson returned from her post-Euros break last week with her knee still swollen. Following a scan, the decision was made to have clean-up surgery which was successful. The issue is in the same knee affected by the 28-year-old's devastating anterior cruciate ligament rupture in April 2023, which ruled her out of the World Cup and sidelined her for nine months. However, this problem is not believed to be linked to that.

While an exact timeline is not yet known, Arsenal expect Williamson to be missing for a few weeks rather than months. The Gunners don't have the blockbuster start to the WSL season that other rivals do, beginning at home to newly-promoted London City Lionesses on September 6 before taking on West Ham the following weekend. However, their third game of the season is a trip to Manchester United and their fifth is a return to the north west to face Manchester City. Arsenal's Champions League title defence will then begin a few days after the latter fixture.

Arsenal will hope Williamson can be back in action for some of those particularly big games, given her quality and importance to the back line. However, the Gunners are at least well-stocked at centre-back, with Lotte Wubben-Moy, Laia Codina, Steph Catley and the young Katie Reid all options while their star defender recovers.