Arsenal through to knockout stages of the Champions League but Vivianne Miedema is stretchered off

Arsenal’s progression to the knockout stages of the Champions League was overshadowed by what is feared to be a serious injury for star forward Vivianne Miedema.

Results elsewhere mean the Gunners are guaranteed a place in the last eight despite a 1-0 defeat by Lyon. But their joy was dampened by the sight of Miedema going off in tears just before half-time.

The forward went in for a tackle but appeared to twist her knee as she landed. There was no contact with any other player as Miedema collapsed to the floor in agony. There was notable concern on the faces of Miedema’s team-mates, who quickly came to the forward’s side.

Miedema’s partner Beth Mead, who suffered an ACL injury last month, had been sitting in the stands but made her way down to the touchline on crutches as she was stretchered off.

Like Mead, Miedema’s World Cup hopes are now hanging in the balance. This latest injury puts another dent in Arsenal’s WSL title hopes, with two of their best attacking players possibly out for the rest of the season.

Captain Kim Little is also sidelined with a knee injury and has not played since October. The midfielder, though, is back in training and expected to make a playing return at the start of next year.

The result of this group match became secondary, given Arsenal would have had to have lost by four goals to not seal qualification to the quarter-finals.

In a game with few chances, it was an own goal by Frida Maanum that separated the two sides. But to rub salt into the wounds, the goal, that came minutes before Miedema’s injury, should have been ruled out for offside.

A long ball into the Arsenal box was headed on by Danielle van de Donk, missed by Manuela Zinsberger and inadvertently put into her own net by Maanum.

But Lyon’s Melvine Malard, who was in an offside position, challenged both the Arsenal midfielder and goalkeeper. The forward was certainly interfering with play but not spotted by the officials.

Arsenal had a flurry of late chances to equalise, with Lyon goalkeeper Christiane Endler making a fantastic save at her near post to deny Stina Blackstenius after Lina Hurtig had seen a volley blocked on the line.

The defeat does not matter too much for Arsenal, who will still top the group on goal difference if they beat Swiss side Zurich next week. The Gunners are top of their group on 10 points, level with Lyon and two ahead of Juventus – who play each other in their final game.

More to follow…