Vivianne Miedema, the talented striker for Arsenal, is set to undergo minor knee surgery, which will result in her missing several weeks of action. The injury occurred during a match against Spain on February 23, where she was forced to be substituted at half-time. As a result, Miedema will not be able to participate in several upcoming games for Arsenal, including the highly anticipated north London derby against Tottenham Hotspur at Emirates Stadium on Sunday.
According to Arsenal head coach Jonas Eidevall, Miedema’s surgery was already necessary and not a consequence of her playing time against Spain. Eidevall stated, “She doesn’t need the surgery because of those 45 minutes she played against Spain. She would have needed surgery anyway, so it was nothing that the Dutch team did that complicated or made the situation worse. It was a situation that needed to be fixed anyway.” This clarifies that the surgery was a pre-planned procedure rather than an emergency one.
This is not the first time Miedema has faced a significant injury. In December 2022, she suffered an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury during a Champions League match against Lyon. This injury kept her out of action for eleven months, including the 2023 Women’s World Cup where the Netherlands were eliminated in the quarterfinals by Spain. However, she made a remarkable comeback in October 2023 and has made 15 appearances for Arsenal this season.
In addition to Miedema’s setback, Leah Williamson, another key player for Arsenal, also faced a significant injury in the past. Williamson missed the 2023 World Cup after sustaining an ACL injury in April 2023. Fortunately, she is now in contention to play against Tottenham this weekend. The England captain withdrew from the national team last month due to a minor hamstring injury but is expected to make a return to the pitch soon.
Arsenal is currently sitting in third place in the Women’s Super League, just three points behind league leaders Chelsea. The absence of Miedema will undoubtedly be felt by the team, but they have a strong squad and are capable of overcoming the challenge. The upcoming north London derby will be an important test for Arsenal as they strive to maintain their position in the league.
In conclusion, Vivianne Miedema’s upcoming knee surgery will temporarily sideline her from the pitch, causing her to miss several games for Arsenal. However, this setback is not unexpected, as she had been dealing with an ACL injury in the past. Arsenal will need to rely on their depth and resilience to overcome Miedema’s absence and continue their pursuit of success in the Women’s Super League.