Williamson’s returning date revealed as fans are happy.
Leah Williamson is set to make a return to the pitch earlier than initially expected following a knee injury that sidelined her for a significant period. The highly influential Arsenal defender suffered a knee injury during England’s triumphant Euro 2025 final against Spain, raising concerns over her availability for the start of the Women’s Super League (WSL) season. Despite the setback, recent news suggests that Williamson could be back sooner than anticipated, providing a crucial boost to the Gunners’ defensive line.
Arsenal are preparing to kick off their WSL campaign on September 6, with their first fixture being a home game against the ambitious London City Lionesses at the Emirates Stadium. The Lionesses, who have shown great progress in recent seasons, will be keen to cause an upset, but Arsenal will be aiming to assert their dominance from the very beginning.
Williamson’s absence is particularly notable given the injury she sustained back in April 2023 when she tore her right anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). However, sources indicate that the knee injury sustained during the Euros is not related to her previous ACL issue. Nevertheless, it remains a significant blow for manager Renee Slegers, who will be without one of her key defenders and a vital leader both on and off the pitch as Arsenal attempt to dethrone Chelsea as the premier WSL side.
Last season, Williamson was a mainstay in the Arsenal lineup, making 19 league appearances as the team finished as runners-up, trailing behind an invincible Chelsea side by 12 points. The Gunners also enjoyed tremendous success on the continental stage, capturing the UEFA Women’s Champions League last summer—a historic achievement for the club. With this momentum, Arsenal are determined to translate their European triumph into domestic glory in the upcoming season.
The early fixtures appear relatively manageable for Arsenal. After hosting London City Lionesses, they face West Ham United away, a team considered minnows compared to the more established WSL giants. Their first real challenge of the season is expected in late September when they travel to Old Trafford to face Manchester United. Williamson is racing against time to regain full match fitness for this crucial fixture, which could have significant implications in the title race.
During preseason preparations, Arsenal struggled defensively without Williamson as they faced a tough 4-3 defeat to local rivals Tottenham Hotspur at Meadow Park. Victoria Pelova opened the scoring with a powerful finish past Spurs’ goalkeeper Lize Kop, but defensive lapses allowed Tottenham’s Bethany England to equalize twice. Arsenal briefly regained the lead through an own goal by Charli Grant, resulting from a well-placed cross by Alessia Russo. However, Spurs ultimately secured a thrilling victory, thanks in part to a sublime free-kick from Eveliina Summanen.
With Williamson sidelined, centre-half duties were handled by Lotte Wubben-Moy and Steph Catley, who found it challenging to contain the Spurs attack, which netted 26 goals in last season’s WSL. Arsenal will be eager to strengthen their backline and get Williamson back as quickly as possible to avoid similar defensive struggles as the season progresses.
Williamson’s leadership and defensive prowess were instrumental in Arsenal’s UEFA Women’s Champions League success, and her return will undoubtedly elevate the team’s chances of mounting a serious challenge for the WSL title. The Gunners and their supporters will be hoping she returns to full fitness swiftly, ready to inspire the team in their quest for both domestic and European honors.
