- Miedema is back from an ACL injury
- Arsenal star came off the bench in win over Bristol City
- Four Gunners suffered ACL injuries last season
WHAT HAPPENED? Vivianne Miedema was brought on for stoppage time of Arsenal's 2-1 WSL win over Bristol City on Sunday, marking her first appearance in nearly a year since suffering an ACL injury last December. The Dutch forward took to social media after the game to share how it felt to be back in action.
"I'm a proper footballer again. The last 310 days have been an emotional and physical rollercoaster," she wrote on X. "You never really understand what rehab/coming back means until you go through it. From the initial sadness and anger when getting injured, to the anxiety and being scared for surgery and your rehab.
"For me it was difficult to trust my body and feel confident again. But after multiple setbacks and comebacks, I finally started to feel excited and confident and I can enjoy being back out there again.
"Sometimes we do things on auto pilot, everything becomes normal and we won't appreciate the moments we should.
"The one thing I learned in this rehab is that I do need to enjoy milestones, special moments and even little steps a lot more. It's like I've never been away."
THE BIGGER PICTURE: Miedema was one of four Arsenal players who suffered ACL injuries last season alongside Beth Mead, Leah Williamson and Laura Wienroither. Mead had already made her return to action, while Williamson and Wienroither have each started running again as their respective rehab progresses. But frequent ACL injuries remain a big problem in women's football - already this season, Manchester United trio Emma Watson, Gabby George and Jess Simpson, the latter on loan at Bristol City, have fallen victim to it.
WHAT NEXT FOR MIEDEMA? The 27-year-old will gradually build up her match fitness during what is going to be a busy November for the Gunners, with four WSL games and two in the Conti Cup group stage.