'Couldn't make the damage any worse' - Vivianne Miedema defends decision to start for Netherlands in Women's Nations League as Arsenal star prepares for knee surgery

Arsenal boss Jonas Eidevall confirmed on Friday that Miedema requires 'minor knee surgery' just days after starting for the Netherlands against Spain. Asked about those minutes in the international break, which were followed by the forward having to leave the Dutch camp prematurely, he added: "She doesn't need a surgery because of those 45 minutes she played against Spain. She would have needed the surgery anyway. It was nothing that the Dutch team did that complicated this here or made the situation worse. It was a situation that needed to be fixed anyway."

Miedema has now spoken herself about the situation, which comes just four months after her return from an ACL rupture. "It's the same knee again," she wrote in her column for AD. "I already knew this surgery was coming. We decided to join the Netherlands camp anyway to see if I could still contribute. In consultation with all the medical specialists, of course. I couldn't make the damage any worse. So what remains is another rehabilitation in which I'll listen to my body very carefully.

"I was just on the way back and felt myself getting stronger mentally and physically," she added. "Soon, I'll have to go back to the gym. It's hard and frustrating. When will this stop for me? But following my previous injury, I'm used to this now."

Miedema will be absent for 'several weeks', which is a real blow for an Arsenal team that still has a chance of winning the Women's Super League title and is in the semi-finals of the Continental Cup. The Gunners are already without three players who are at the CONCACAF W Gold Cup and Eidevall revealed on Friday that Amanda Ilestedt will be missing be Sunday's clash with rivals Tottenham, too.

Spurs beat Arsenal for the first-time in the history of the women's team in December. Prior to that, the Gunners were unbeaten in 14 meetings with their north London rivals, winning 11 of those in 90 minutes, two on penalties and drawing once.

Miedema's spell on the sidelines means she will not only miss that rematch on Sunday, she'll also be sidelined for the Conti Cup semi-final against Aston Villa next week and this month's huge clash with Chelsea, with more fixtures likely to be added to that list. Once she has had the surgery, scheduled for Monday, more details on her recovery and spell on the sidelines will be known.