Do Arsenal Have an Injury Crisis on Their Hands? Warning Signs Are Creeping In

Do Arsenal have an injury crisis on its hands?

Well, to some extent, they do have an injury crisis; if there is not one now, there sure could be, as there are ‘warning signs’ creeping in. With players coming in and out of fitness, it is a scientific fact that players are more likely to injure themselves if they do not get enough recovery time between fixtures. If players are playing every game, this goes up. Also, the number of games will only increase as the season goes on, as they are currently playing only in the WSL and Champions League, but will also play in the League Cup and FA Cup.

We saw it in the first couple of games of the season, when players hadn't been rested and looked sluggish, making it feel like injuries were bound to happen, and we were therefore not surprised by their bench's weakness against Leicester.

Though this crisis has not reached the level of 2022/23, given the trauma of that season, it has left a scar in fans' minds that it could happen again. Some fans are concerned about the depth and quality of their squad compared to those of clubs like Chelsea.

While they have long-term injuries, there will always be injuries and minor knocks, especially with the return of international football and players being asked to do more.

Should there be concern for the rest of the season if these minor injuries niggles injuries, and setbacks continue?

As it was only a few weeks ago, they lost to Lyon, drew with Manchester United, and just about beat Brighton when key players were fit and/or available.

What will happen if more injuries happen? 

They are currently only playing in the WSL and the Champions League. What happens when they start playing in the League Cup and the FA Cup, which are knockout competitions? 

Plus, in the long term, not automatically qualifying for the quarter-finals of the Champions League and having to go through play-offs means there is more pressure to perform, which could push players' physical and mental fitness to the limit.

The long-term injury will not directly affect them now, but their second-choice goalkeeper, Manuela Zinsberger, has ruptured her ACL. 

She suffered the season-ending injury during a training session ahead of the Champions League tie vs Benfica Women in October 2025. 

Even though she is not their first-choice keeper, if their first-choice keeper is injured, ill, or unfit, she would have been called upon.c It also means that the No. 1 keeper cannot necessarily be rested or rotated. Though if that were to occur, they could technically bring in a new goalkeeper on loan outside the transfer window under the rules. Also, the only fit goalkeeper they have has not yet made her Arsenal debut and only joined over the summer.

She has only recently completed her surgery, with the other members of the goalkeepers’ union by her side in support.

Renee Sleger said: “It’s very hard for Manu, it’s always very sad when these things happen

Daphne Van Domselaar's fitness has come into question. Yes, she played against Leicester—they had no choice. She, however, was not included in the Netherlands women’s national team squad for the October 2025 international friendlies against Poland and Canada because she was building up fitness. If your first keeper is dealing with fitness issues and your second is out for the rest of the season, should there be concern? She remained with the Dutch squad; she was just not considered fully match-fit to play in the games. Does that mean she is fit now? Though this decision not to play her was likely made to manage her condition and avoid the risk of further injuries, which was likely pushed by Arsenal given Zinsberger's injury. With Zinsberger out and van Domselaar shouldering the burden, any drop in her availability or performance makes rotation in the keeper position a critical pressure point.

In Arsenal's game against Leicester, Kim Little, the veteran and captain, had to be substituted, with Katie Reid taking her place. Sleger did not want to take any chances with the captain.

 Lotte Wubben-Moy and Kyra Cooney-Cross were both unavailable for their game against Leicester. It is unclear what occurred, as Wubben-Moy withdrew from England ahead of the first game, returned home, and then returned to Arsenal due to illness.

 Katie Reid is another player who had a minor groin injury and had to drop out of her first senior England call-up. Though she was in the squad for Arsenal WSL match against Leicester, she came on as a sub. The extent of her injury is uncertain, but it was only over two weeks after she got injured/ had to withdraw that she was back on the field. Could this cause bigger problems down the line?

Emily Fox was substituted in Arsenal's Champions League away win at Benfica before the international break with a knock after a heavy challenge. The manager said after the game, “Foxy seems alright. She has a knock on the shin. I think she should be alright.” 

Arsenal’s captain, Leah Williamson, is sidelined after undergoing a knee procedure following swelling in the joint sustained during her England duty in the summer. Her absence from the start of the 2025-26 campaign leaves a tremendous leadership and defensive gap in a back-line that already carries heavy match-loads and relies on precise timing and experience. Without Williamson’s organising voice and defensive stability, Arsenal face increased vulnerability in transitions and set pieces, placing extra strain on the remaining defenders and reducing the margin for error. Her absence also signals broader structural risk: when a senior figure of her calibre is out, it exposes weaknesses in squad depth and rotation strategy, two markers of an injury crisis developing.

Young forward Olivia Smith has been unavailable for their game against Leicester due to a bruised hip sustained during her international break, and was not fit enough to feature in the match-day squad ahead of a key game.  Her unavailability disrupts the attacking rotation and forces more minutes onto the remaining forwards, increasing fatigue risk and reducing tactical flexibility. With Smith out, Arsenal’s attacking options shrink, and the burden on familiar starters grows, which can contribute to form dips and complacency. Her injury adds another layer to the accumulating “minor knocks plus illness” pattern, suggesting the squad is being tested physically and needs better rest, recovery, and rotation systems to avoid the crisis seen in earlier seasons.

Midfielder Frida Maanum picked up a knock during international duty and was among several players missing against Leicester and ahead of a prominent fixture, underscoring the “availability issue” that Arsenal face at key moments. Her presence in the midfield is crucial for Arsenal’s transition play, defensive cover and goal contribution; without her, the squad loses both tactical balance and depth. When Maanum and others are unavailable, the reliance shifts heavily toward the same small group of players to plug gaps, thereby further elevating fatigue levels and the risk of injury down the line. Collectively, her absence alongside other senior and emerging injuries points to a deeper problem: Arsenal’s margin for error is diminishing, and their capacity to rotate effectively is in question. Plus, if they are losing, they do not have players on the bench like Maanum to come in and be a super-sub game-changer.

But without the likes of Leah Williamson in defence, they do not necessarily have the ability and the affordability to rotate players to rest them, especially if they have also played for the country. This increases the mental strain on players to avoid injury and, therefore, makes them more cautious and play differently. Scientifically, injuries are more likely to occur when players play energetically than when they usually do. 

While this could develop and get worse, it is not on the level of the 2022/23 season, which saw four ACL ruptures, which were unprecedented and long-term injuries. Beth Mead and Leah Williamson, two key players for Arsenal, suffered a season ending injury.

Jona Eidevall, the manager at the time, seemed not to be surprised by the increase in ACL injuries: “We have to look at where the sport is heading … more competitive games, more intensity than there’s ever been before … that’s only going to increase.”

These injuries stretched the depth of the squad, which was already significantly depleted, and the performance became inconsistent, ending their hopes of defending the title that season.

The difference is that Manu Zinsberger is the only long-term injury they have. Williamson is hoping to be back before the winter break if she has no further setbacks. While the squad is now a little larger, there are still warning signs.

Ultimately, if they are not strategic with player management, and injuries are always possible, they have a larger squad if injuries or illnesses occur —unlike Barcelona.