3 solutions for title-chasing Arsenal after devastating Vivianne Miedema injury

Arsenal have suffered yet another injury blow with the news that Vivianne Miedema has ruptured her ACL and will undergo surgery.

Miedema is not only a hugely respected, senior international, but also someone who produces goals for the Gunners on a regular basis. She is the WSL's all-time top goalscorer and had just hit four in four games going into last week's Champions League tie with Lyon when she sustained the serious injury.

It means her hopes of playing again this season are over and the Dutch international revealed on social media that she won't be able to play at the 2023 Women's World Cup next summer in Australia and New Zealand. It also gives Jonas Eidevall real selection issues for the second half of the campaign.

Arsena l now find themselves with two of their main attacking weapons, twice golden-boot winner Miedema and Beth Mead, both sidelined indefinitely. Eidevall will have to find solutions - and fast - with a game against table topping Chelsea looming on January 15.

So where do the club need to look to ensure that this latest cruel twist, doesn't prove fatal to their quest for silverware.

Get Stina Blackstenius firing again

Since signing in January 2022 Stina Blackstenius has normally led the line for the Gunners playing as the central striker in a front three. Her return of seven goals last season, six of which came in 11 WSL appearances, was a decent return.

This season she has hit five goals, four coming in the league but hasn't found the net since scoring against bottom of the table Leicester at the start of November. It's hardly a crisis-level goal drought but Arsenal will need to see more from their super Swede in the coming weeks.

It isn't easy for Blackstenius to always be the main source of goals for the Gunners, her style of play often looks more suitable to a more direct team rather than one that like to build phases of play slowly with controlled possession. So maybe Eidevall will have to let his team go slightly more direct to get the best out of her.

Equally, Blackstenius has shown he can adapt her game. Her perfectly timed run in-behind created Miedema's winner against Juventus two weeks ago after a careful pass from Leah Williamson.

But with the Dutchwoman no longer able to provide the match-winning goals herself, Blackstenius may be asked to shoulder the workload after the Christmas break.

Give Lina Hurtig a chance to shine role

It feels almost unfair to ask a player who has only just returned from injury herself to fill the void left by Miedema but Lina Hurtig is a player capable of doing just that. The defeat to Lyon was dispiriting night for the Gunners, Miedema's injury combined with a first European defeat of the season.

But there were two big positives for Arsenal. Firstly, they qualified for the last eight despite the result. Secondly, Eidevall had one less injury problem to worry about when Hurtig made her return from the bench after over a month out.

Brought on for Katie McCabe with only five minutes left, Hurtig had one goalbound effort blocked as she nearly made a dramatic introduction. There is no doubt she knows where the back of the net is and has already scored twice in the Champions League against Zurich this season, her record also boasts 20 international goals for Sweden.

The absence of both Mead and Miedema gives her a real opportunity to stake a claim for a place in Eidevall's best XI. Who knows she may end up as Arsenal's top scorer in the second half of the camapign.

Recruit a replacement in January

It's not always as simple as just dipping into the transfer market and buying a player. Wage structures won't be altered off the back of a few injuries, particularly at a club as well-run as Arsenal.

But surely their current run with injuries means it is extenuating circumstances for Eidevall and Head of Women's Football Clare Wheatley. Mead and Miedema being out for the season means Arsenal won't play another WSL game with either of their two highest scorers from last season.

The duo provided well over a third of Arsenal's WSL goals last season. In this scenario most clubs would be looking at possible reinforcements. Arsenal do have options but also have to be wary of further suspensions and injuries to come.

Even if it is only on a short-term basis, an extra forward in January is starting to look essential. Tobin Heath, who left the Gunners in April, is now a free agent after her contract with OL Reign in the NWSL expired.

Could she make a return to North London? It is probably unlikely but Arsenal are in need of forward cover and looking towards the US market for a short-term deal, even outside of Heath, could be a wise move.

NEW! Our Year: European Champions 2022 - The Official England Winners Book

With a foreword by England manager Sarina Wiegman, this is the only official book of the historic triumph, reliving every kick of a thrilling tournament and telling the stories of the players who made it all happen.

Order from https://reachsportshop.com/book/our-year-european-champion-2022/