🚨 Breaking: Arsenal get Leah Williamson, Kim Little back for WSL clash

 

 

After months on the sidelines, Arsenal Women are given a major boost with the return of captain Kim Little and vice-captain Leah Williamson ahead of their forthcoming WSL clash with Liverpool Women.

 

Leah Williamson — who hasn’t featured since suffering a knee injury in the final of UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 — underwent a procedure after reporting knee swelling post-tournament. The recovery kept her out of the start of the WSL season and Arsenal’s pre-season tour.

 

Kim Little, likewise recovering from a recent knock, joins Williamson in returning to full squad availability. Speaking ahead of the match, manager Renée Slegers confirmed both players will be included in the squad, but cautioned that “they’re not fit enough to play 90 minutes.”

 

Their return comes at a crucial time. Arsenal have been struggling with multiple injuries — already missing key names such as winger Chloe Kelly and goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar for the foreseeable future.

 

The inclusion of Williamson and Little offers more than just an extra pair of boots. For Williamson, a defensive stalwart and a leader, her presence strengthens Arsenal’s back line at a time when defensive cohesion matters deeply. Little’s return adds experience and stability in midfield — a zone that often dictated Arsenal’s rhythm and control last season.

 

Fans and teammates alike will welcome the morale boost. After an intense summer featuring a European triumph for both club and country, followed by setbacks due to injury, having two senior leaders back restores composure and belief.

 

Still, Slegers’ caution is understandable. Both players have missed significant playing time, and rushing them back could risk further injury. It’s likely the coming match will see them eased in — perhaps brought on as substitutes rather than starting, or managed carefully across minutes.

 

In short: the return of Leah Williamson and Kim Little brings hope and stability. The saints of resilience and leadership are back — and with them, Arsenal’s ambitions for domestic and European resurgence feel a little more real.