LEAH WILLIAMSON has “had her tears and made her peace” with her season coming to an end following an injury blow.
The Lionesses’ captain, 26, will miss the World Cup and the rest of Arsenal’s games this term after suffering anterior cruciate ligament damage.
Leah Williamson’s ACL injury has brought her season to an end three months before the World Cup
The Arsenal centre-back and England skipper sustained a knee injury during the Gunners’ midweek loss to Man United in the WSL
Williamson is set for an extended spell out of action and is due to undergo surgery
The Gunners and England centre-back sustained the injury before her club’s crunch Champions semis clash with Wolfsburg on Sunday.
She limped off during the first half of Arsenal’s 1-0 loss away to Manchester United on Wednesday after appearing to jar her knee whilst challenging for the ball.
In a statement on Friday the club said the player is set for an “extended spell on the sidelines” and would “undergo surgery in due course”.
Via her Instagram account, Williamson wrote: “Unfortunately the World Cup and Champions League dream is over for me.
“Everyone will think that’s the main focus, but it’s the day to day of what I’m about to go through that is the most draining of my thoughts.
“I had my tears and made my peace with it the night it happened.
“Since then I have been following the steps I’m told to, in order to best help myself in the short and long term.
“Ultimately, I think it’s just my time.
“In the past couple of years alone I have watched teammates beat serious illnesses and adversity with the biggest of smiles on their faces.
“I also hold perspective that globally there are much greater difficulties and therefore my circumstances right now are just that, circumstantial, and I’ve seen a lot worse.”
Williamson joins Kim Little, Beth Mead and Vivianne Miedema on the sidelines with the crocked Arsenal trio seeing their seasons ended prematurely.
Her injury is also a significant setback for England with Lionesses vice-captain Millie Bright currently recovering from a knee issue.
A number of Williamson’s club and country team-mates took to social media with messages of support for the player.
In a post published via her Twitter account, Mead wrote: “We are with you every step of the way even if I have to be quiet some days in rehab.
“We got you, all the love and strength in the world.
And Man United’s Ella Toone said she “was right behind” her England team-mate.
Williamson, who has 41 senior international caps, pledged to continue giving her all for club and country.
The defender, who has 41 senior Lionesses caps, added: “I haven’t had a day since last October when I’ve walked on to the pitch without a physical or mental question mark over me, and that’s professional sports.
“So now I have to listen to my body, give it what it needs and if everything happens for a reason, then we’ll see what road this turn sends me down.
“I have given and will continue to give everything that my body, mind and heart possibly has to the Arsenal and Lionesses.
“I will still be there through thick and thin for all of my teammates and their biggest supporter.
“I feel your love and support, so thank you! All I ask is for a little bit of time and space to deal with all that is to come.”
