Arsenal
Image Credit: Getty Images
Arsenal Women have announced a significant blow to their squad, confirming that goalkeeper Manuela Zinsberger has suffered a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament during a training session.
The Austrian shot-stopper picked up the serious knee injury as the team geared up for their UEFA Women’s Champions League clash with Benfica. She is set to have surgery shortly and faces a lengthy absence.
Zinsberger will miss the rest of the 2025/26 campaign, leaving a void in Arsenal’s goalkeeping department. The club issued an official statement expressing support for the 29-year-old: “Manuela sustained the injury during a training session while preparing for our trip to face Benfica in the UEFA Women’s Champions League.
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“Our Austrian goalkeeper will undergo surgery in due course and is expected to be sidelined for the remainder of the 2025/26 season. Manuela is being closely supported by our medical team at Sobha Realty Training Centre, and everyone at Arsenal looks forward to seeing her return to action as soon as possible.”
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Manuela Zinsberger has suffered a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament during a training session. [Image Credit: Getty Images]
This setback arrives amid a challenging period for head coach Renée Slegers, who is contending with multiple player unavailability. Defender Anneke Borbe has been out with an illness, while Katie Reid has been nursing a groin issue.
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During the recent 2-0 win in Lisbon against Benfica, full-backs Emily Fox and Steph Catley also sustained knocks—Fox from an ankle challenge and Catley from a suspected hamstring strain after pushing through pain. Compounding matters, Daphne van Domselaar has been ruled out of international duty due to ongoing fitness concerns.
Zinsberger, a mainstay since joining Arsenal in 2021, has featured in 78 matches and played a pivotal role in last season’s Women’s Super League triumph. Her resilience will be key to a full recovery, but the team must now rally with backups like van Domselaar stepping up. As Arsenal navigate this injury crisis, the focus shifts to maintaining momentum in both domestic and European competitions, with the medical staff providing crucial backing at the Sobha Realty Training Centre.
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