Arsenal attacker Vivianne Miedema was stretchered off as The Gunners were defeated 1-0 by Lyon in their latest UEFA Women’s Champions League group stage match at the Emirates Stadium this evening.
The Dutch international injured her knee at the end of the first half. While the injury is yet to be fully-assessed, the initial concern is that Miedema may have injured her Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) resulting in months on the sidelines.
The match itself was a battle with both goalkeepers being kept relatively quiet throughout. Lotte Wubben-Moy headed narrowly over midway through the first half before Caitlin Foord failed to make the most of a wicked Katie McCabe cross.
The match-winning moment came courtesy of an error from the officials rather than as a result of wonderful football. A long ball into the Arsenal box found Delphine Cascarino who headed across goal and the ball was put into her own net by the unfortunate Frida Maanum. Replays showed that Lyon’s Melvine Malard benefited from being in an offside position and the goal arguably could have been chalked off.
The Gunners’ bad luck got much worse just moments later as Miedema was stretchered off with an injury after twisting her knee as she stamped her leg into the turf. Arsenal will be hoping that it is nothing serious but it doesn’t look good.
Katie McCabe had a chance to level matters early in the second half but her weak effort failed to trouble Christiane Endler in the Lyon goal.
Arsenal’s best opportunities came late in the game. Lina Hurtig’s effort forced a good save from Endler before Stina Blackstenius’ follow-up shot brought an even better stop from the Lyon keeper. The Gunners kept going but they couldn’t find the goal which would have prevented them from slipping to a defeat.
The result sees Arsenal qualify for the quarter-finals of this season’s UEFA Women’s Champions League, although they will have to wait until Matchday 6 to try and secure top spot in the group.
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