Arsenal boss Jonas Eidevall has provided an injury update on Leah Williamson ahead of the Gunners' Women's Super League opener with Manchester City.
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Williamson benched in midweek due to 'problem'Arsenal start WSL season against Man City on SundayGunners boss Eidevall provides update on England starFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Williamson was on the bench for the first leg of Arsenal's Champions League second round qualifier on Wednesday, which they lost 1-0 to Hacken in Sweden. Eidevall said after the match that her absence from the starting XI was "a physical decision due to events that happened in the week".
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The Gunners have some big games coming up. On Sunday, they kick-off their WSL season at home to Man City, who ran Chelsea so close for the title last year that the race was eventually decided on goal difference. Four days later, they host Hacken in the second leg of that European qualifier, needing to win by two goals to reach the group stage, and a couple of weeks after that, they host Chelsea.
WHAT EIDEVALL SAID
Asked about Williamson's availability going into Sunday's WSL opener, Eidevall said in his press conference on Friday: "She is okay. I don't really have all the information yet regarding the whole squad, but when it comes to Leah Williamson, yes, there was a problem that meant she was not in an ideal position to start the game against Hacken. That should not be the case now towards Sunday."
DID YOU KNOW?
While that is certainly good news for Arsenal ahead of some important fixtures, there are still absentees that Eidevall will have to cope without. The coach confirmed on Friday that both Steph Catley, the Australia international full-back, and Lina Hurtig, the Swedish forward, will not be available on Sunday. He did not provide timelines for their respective returns.