Arsenal defender Teyah Goldie has become the fifth first-team player to sustain an anterior cruciate ligament injury over the last nine months.
The Gunners have confirmed that the 19-year-old has “undergone surgery” and has now started the early stages of her rehabilitation.
It is believed that Goldie picked up the issue while she was away from training but the club’s medical team have since learned the extent of the injury.
Arsenal have had terrible luck with ACLs recently. Beth Mead was first sidelined with the problem back in November before Vivianne Miedema was struck down just a month later.
England captain Leah Williamson then suffered the same fate in April, ruling the midfielder out of the World Cup, with Laura Wienroither following suit not long afterwards.
Speaking to Sky Sports earlier this year, Dr. Emma Ross revealed that women footballers are “are up to six times more likely to have a non-contact ACL injury than their male counterparts.”
There are a number of factors at play, including looser joints as well as ill-fitting football boots that are designed for men, but more research is required to get to the bottom of why these injuries are more prevalent.