Vivianne Miedema will be out for an ‘extended period’. Photo: Natalie Mincher/Sports Press Photo

ARSENAL have been rocked by yet another serious injury to one of their star players after it was confirmed this week that striker Vivianne Miedema will undergo knee surgery.

The Women’s Super League all-time top goalscorer was stretchered off during the Gunners’ Champions League tie against Lyon at the Emirates Stadium last Thursday. Arsenal confirmed Miedema will be out for an “extended period”, joining teammate Beth Mead on the sidelines after she also suffered an ACL injury last month.

In an emotional message to the fans, Miedema said: “Absolutely gutted to share I’ve ruptured my ACL. It was one of those moments, where I knew straight away. So many things going through your head: I won’t be able to help my team anymore this season, no World Cup, surgery and rehab for a long, long time.

“I won’t be telling you I’ll come back stronger or that I’m looking forward to spending the next however many months in the gym. It will be tough with plenty of difficult days (plenty of crying, which we’ve had a lot of already), but sadly enough it’s part of football.

“I’m lucky enough to have amazing teammates, friends and family around me and Beth, who can guide me through everything that’s coming while only being a couple of weeks ahead of me. (Can’t wait to do some boxing in the gym after she’s been annoying me for a while).

“Thank you for all your messages, I do really appreciate them and they are helping a lot!”