Arsenal Women 0-1 Lyon Women

A serious injury to renowned Arsenal attacker Viv Miedema marred their 1-0 defeat at the hands of Lyon in the Women's Champions League on Thursday evening in North London.

While Jonas Eidevall's Gunners still managed to secure qualification to the quarter-final stages of the tournament, the club waits on tenterhooks to find out just how serious the injury is to Miedema. 

The Netherlands star was stretchered off in tearful agony moments before the half time break after crumpling to the ground, with her knee seeming to be the problem.

Both teams looked on in great distress, as the 26-year-old was carried from the field to a sympathetic round of applause from both sets of supporters, with players including Beth Mead and Katie McCabe attempting to comfort her.

Speaking after the match, Eidevall, said he did not know how severe Miedema’s injury was. “I haven’t spoken to her or the doctor and got an update,” he said. “Right now, that takes a lot of my thoughts. I’m very concerned over that, of course, but we had to stay focused during the game and focus on our performance.”

Moments before Miedema's unsettling departure, Lyon had taken the lead through a Frida Maanum own goal as the visitors pressure from former Gunner Daniëlle van de Donk paid off shortly before Miedema's injury and the half time whistle.

In truth, perhaps it was the bitter cold, or maybe it was the fact that both teams did not expect a repeat of the astonishing 5-1 result in the previous clash between the teams in France, that led to the opening stages being as unappealing as the freezing temperatures.

A lacklustre start was punctuated by a Lotte Wubben-Moy header from Steph Catley's corner on 22 minutes that flew narrowly over Lyon keeper Christiane Endler's bar.

The evening served up attritional fayre as Arsenal showed their grit by imposing their will on French flair. At one stage two Lyon players lay prone on the turf, victims of full-blooded challenges that were legal - and compelling viewing.

This was underlined by a resolute backline that denied former Gunner van de Donk an opener moments before the interval.

However, the eventually pressure told, and Lyon went 1-0 ahead when Maanum was pressurised into sending the ball into her own net past keeper Manuela Zinsberger, following van de Donk's header, sending their small but spirited band of followers in the away end into raptures.

That was before Miedema's injury moments before half time. No wonder the team formed a huddle prior to the start of the second half, their thoughts surely on their stricken colleague, as Rafaella Souza replaced the injured Netherlands star.

Stina Blackstenius fed Katie McCabe, whose shot was gathered by Endler as the home side attempted to gain parity. That was before Gunners keeper Zinsberger blocked Lyon No9 Eugenie Le Sommer's powerful drive on 56 minutes.

Despite Arsenal's best efforts - which included goalmouth melee's - they simply could not find a way through the Lyon backline, as the clocked ticked down.

As the final whistle blew, leaving Arsenal to contemplate a win in Switzerland next week against Zurich would be enough to guarantee top spot - as they have a better head-to-head goal difference over Lyon, who are level on 10 points with Eidevall's side going into the final round of games - everyone's thoughts were focussed far more on Miedema's condition. 

For such a talented, popular footballer, all anyone can do is wish her well after such a distressing evening. The football can wait.

HT: @ArsenalWFC 0-1 Lyon. Worrying scenes as Viv Miedema looks in great distress as she is stretchered off just before the half time whistle. Let’s hope she is ok as Beth Mead and others comfort her pic.twitter.com/O1GtIbcCzu

— Layth (@laythy29) December 15, 2022