England captain Leah Williamson marked her long-awaited return to competitive football on Wednesday, coming back from a nine-month absence due to an ACL injury. The versatile Arsenal player suffered the injury in April while playing for her club but has since undergone a lengthy rehabilitation process. Finally, in Arsenal's Conti Cup match against Reading, Williamson made her comeback as a second-half substitute, making a significant impact on the game.
Having led the Lionesses to Euro 2022 glory, Williamson's injury sadly ruled her out of competing for England at the 2023 Women's World Cup in Australia. However, her return to the pitch will undoubtedly serve as a tremendous boost for both Arsenal and the national team.
Williamson entered the match in the 61st minute, replacing Jen Beattie, and quickly made her presence felt. She provided an assist for Beth Mead, contributing to Arsenal's comfortable 6-0 victory over Reading. Reflecting on her return, Williamson shared her joy with Sky Sports News, saying, 'It was lovely. You think a lot about how that moment's going to be, and that was perfect.'
Expressing her love for playing football at Arsenal, Williamson added, 'Everyone knows how much I love the club—I'll get emotional about it if I talk about it too much. I'm just happy to be back and try to help my team.'
Looking ahead, England will be participating in two friendly matches in February before embarking on their Euros qualification campaign in April. Williamson expressed her hope of returning to the fold for the national team, stating, 'I've missed playing for England, so hopefully I can get myself back in contention and see what happens.'
The return of Leah Williamson signifies not only a personal triumph over adversity but also promises to strengthen both Arsenal and England. Her leadership and skills on the pitch will undoubtedly be invaluable for both teams, and fans, surely, can't wait to see her back in action at full tilt.
