Walton Hall Park Stadium, England 28th April 2024: Leah Williamson (6 Arsenal) during the Barclays Women Super League between Everton and Arsenal at Walton Hall Park Stadium in Liverpool, England 28th April 2024 | Photo: Jayde Chamberlain/SPP. Jayde Chamberlain/SPP (Jayde Chamberlain/SPP)
Leah Williamson continues her comeback in an injury-stricken season as she returns to the Arsenal line-up in the first leg of their UEFA Women’s Champions League semi-final against Lyon.
She partners Lotte Wubben-Moy in the centre of defence at the Emirates on Sunday afternoon.
Williamson’s most recent fitness issue was a hamstring problem, which followed a calf problem at the turn of the year.
That in turn came after the rehab that meant she missed the first half of the season, which was necessitated by the “clean-up” knee surgery she required following England’s Women’s Euros triumph in the summer of 2025.
Chloe Kelly is not in the squad, and nor is Beth Mead; Gunners head coach Renee Slegers had confirmed on Friday that Mead would be absent for personal reasons.
Arsenal are also without Steph Catley, who has a calf injury.
Arsenal played Lyon at the same stage of the same tournament last season, with the Gunners losing 2-1 at the Emirates but winning 4-1 in the away leg.
They then went on to beat Barcelona in the final in Lisbon, courtesy of a single Stina Blackstenius goal, giving them their second European crown.
Arsenal line-up to face Lyon
Daphne van Domselaar; Emily Fox; Leah Williamson; Lotte Wubben-Moy; Katie McCabe; Kim Little (c); Mariona Caldentey; Alessia Russo; Olivia Smith; Caitlin Foord; Stina Blackstenius.
Subs: Anneke Borbe, Barbora Votikova, Leah Codina, Taylor Hinds, Smilla Holmberg, Sophie Harwood, Victoria Pelova, Frida Maanum.
