Arsenal women suffer double injury blow on international duty | OneFootball

Arsenal have been dealt a double injury blow during the international break, with both Chloe Kelly and Daphne van Domselaar returning to the club for treatment ahead of a crucial run of fixtures that includes a Champions League semi-final showdown with Lyon.

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Kelly, who had been called up to represent England in their UEFA Women’s Nations League fixtures against Belgium, sustained a foot injury during training and was subsequently withdrawn from contention for both matches.

She had already been ruled out of the first fixture by Sarina Wiegman, but following further assessment, the decision was made to send her back to Arsenal.

“We expected it not to be too serious, but it is a short time until Tuesday, so we knew it would be tight,” Wiegman said. “We assessed her again and realised it would be too early. Hopefully, it will not take too long.”

An official statement from the club confirmed: “Chloe Kelly has returned to us for treatment on a foot injury and will not participate in England’s forthcoming UEFA Women’s Nations League fixtures against Belgium. Yesterday [Thursday] Sarina Wiegman confirmed Kelly’s withdrawal from tonight’s fixture and following further assessment, it has now been decided that she will return to us to aid her rehabilitation.”

Kelly’s injury comes at a pivotal point in Arsenal’s season. Renee Slegers’ side face Leicester City on 15 April before taking on Lyon across two legs in the UEFA Women’s Champions League semi-finals on 19 and 27 April.

The club’s injury list has also grown with the return of Daphne van Domselaar, who injured her ankle late in the Netherlands’ 1–0 win over Austria on Friday. The goalkeeper fell awkwardly while diving for a shot and left the pitch in visible discomfort.

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“I am able to walk on it so I don’t expect it is very serious,” van Domselaar told de Telegraaf, but she has been officially ruled out of the second leg of the Austria double-header.

A statement from the KNVB read: “Daphne van Domselaar has left the training camp. She suffered an injury during the home match against Austria, which makes her unavailable for the upcoming match on Tuesday. Regina van Eijk (Ajax) will join the squad in Austria this afternoon.”

Katie McCabe injury being managed ahead of Champions League semi-final

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Katie McCabe continues to be monitored after sustaining a calf strain during Arsenal’s Champions League victory over Real Madrid. The Republic of Ireland international did not start Friday’s 4–0 win over Greece, instead coming on at half-time.

Manager Eileen Gleeson confirmed the decision was precautionary: “We knew that we had 45 minutes in her and I didn’t want to start her and potentially take her off. I wanted to go the other way and she had a massive impact, as did Marissa.”

She has not yet been sent back to the club, and her condition will be closely assessed ahead of the upcoming fixtures.