Arsenal midfielder Pelova suffers ACL injury while on international duty

Arsenal have confirmed that Victoria Pelova has sustained an anterior cruciate ligament injury while on international duty with the Netherlands.

The 25-year-old, who scored two goals and provided seven assists during the 2023–24 Women’s Super League campaign for the Gunners, is expected to undergo surgery in the coming days, but it is not the first time an Arsenal player has suffered an injury of this nature.

England pair Beth Mead and Leah Williamson were forced to miss the 2023 Women’s World Cup, with Pelova’s compatriot Vivianne Miedema also missing out on the tournament in Australia because of the same issue.

In a statement, Arsenal said: “Victoria was substituted after her knee extended in the 12th minute of the Netherlands’ UEFA Women’s Championship qualifier in Tampere, Finland, and subsequently underwent testing to determine the extent of the injury.

“She will undergo surgery in due course and will be sidelined for an extended period.”

We can confirm that Victoria Pelova suffered a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament whilst on international duty.

We’ll be with you every step of the way, Vic

— Arsenal Women (@ArsenalWFC) June 12, 2024

Pelova was one of the Gunners’ most influential players during their third-place finish in the WSL, creating 30 chances from her 22 appearances, the third-highest in the squad behind Mead and Katie McCabe, as Arsenal finished third, while also winning the Women’s League Cup.

ACL injuries have become a major problem for the women’s game and in April a new three-year project researching them was launched.