Arsenal have confirmed that midfielder Victoria Pelova suffered a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury while on international duty with the Netherlands last week.
Pelova, 25, was substituted after 12 minutes of the Netherlands’ 1-1 draw with Finland in their European Championship qualifier. The injury came from an extension of the knee and its extent was determined through tests over the last week.
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A club statement read: “(Pelova) will undergo surgery in due course and will be sidelined for an extended period. Everyone at the club will now be supporting Victoria through her recovery and return to action.”
Arsenal underwent a crisis of ACL during the 2022-23 season, with Beth Mead, Vivianne Miedema, Leah Williamson and Laura Wienroither all sidelined by the serious knee injury.
Recovery usually takes around nine months, but a return to true match sharpness comes later. As a result, Arsenal may expect to be without Pelova for the majority of the 2024-25 season.
That will be a major blow for head coach Jonas Eidevall considering the Netherlands international proved her worth in midfield alongside Lia Walti and Kim Little throughout the 2023-24 campaign. Arsenal have other midfield options, such as Frida Maanum and Kathrine Kuhl, but Pelova brings a unique skillset to that position.
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Arsenal's Victoria Pelova: 'I’m so different to what I was in the beginning'
(Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)