Arsenal's Jonas Eidevall calls for solutions to number of ACL injuries

Arsenal boss Jonas Eidevall calls for solutions to address the growing amount of ACL issues in the women’s game following Leah Williamson’s season-ending injury… as research finds they are more likely to rupture the ligament than men

  • Arsenal manager Jonas Eidevall has called for more research into ACL injuries
  • Leah Williamson became the club’s third star this season to suffer the injury
  • Research suggests women are two to six times more likely to injure their ACL

Arsenal manager Jonas Eidevall says football clubs and governing bodies must work together to address the increasing problem of ACL injuries in women’s football.

England captain Leah Williamson became the third Gunners player to suffer the knee injury this season and will subsequently miss this summer’s World Cup.

Research has estimated that women are between two to eight times more likely to rupture their anterior cruciate ligament than male players.

Eidevall reiterated the need for solutions and insisted Arsenal also have to look at what they can do to lessen the risks.

‘What causes an injury like that is multifaceted of course,’ Eidevall said. ‘It’s a combination of load, physically, mentally, luck, un-luck in that moment. You can never know fully why you got into that position with the knee.

Arsenal manager Jonas Eidevall wants more done to protect women from ACL injuries

Arsenal’s Leah Williamson (right) was the latest star to suffer the long-term injury

Williamson (on floor) ruptured her ACL in a recent clash with Manchester United and will miss this summer’s Women’s World Cup

‘I think what’s important going forward with these injuries, that female football players are six times more likely to get those injuries.

‘We have to see where the sport is heading and we can see that there is more competitive games, it’s more intensity than it’s ever been before and we know that’s a development that is only going to increase.

‘So when we know that, it’s like what Jen [Beattie] was saying with the Football Associations, the governing bodies, the clubs and saying “now that we know that and we know this risk, what can we do? What can we learn from what has been? What are the things we can change? What are the things we can do to better adapt to that situation?”

‘We as a club have to look at the factors that we can control and be as good as possible. We are not sticking our heads in the sand and just blaming all external factors. We have to look inside and first see what we can change and do that.’

Williamson’s Arsenal team-mate Jen Beattie added: ‘Good conversations are being had.

‘It’s one of those long-term projects where we might not see the benefits right now but hopefully the next generations will.’


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