Laura Wienroither

Austrian right back Laura was – alongside Beth Mead, Vivianne Miedema and Leah Williamson – one of four Arsenal players to suffer an ACL injury during 2022/23, in her case during the Champions League semi-final second leg against Wolfsburg in May 2023. So one of the most heartwarming sights of last season was her long-awaited return in the closing stages of a 5-0 win over Bristol City in April 2024. She went on to feature three more times, all in the WSL, as she geared up for this season. 

A hard-running defender with an infectious enthusiasm that has made her a real fan favourite, Laura was well on her way to establishing herself in the side before her injury. The Austria international, who made her debut for her country at the age of 20 in 2019, made 30 appearances in 2022/23, two-thirds of them starts, and scored a stunning first goal to put us 2-1 up in an eventual 3-2 defeat to Manchester United in November 2022.

Sadly her season was cut short as she settled into life in England, having signed from German side Hoffenheim – for whom she scored against us in the Champions League just weeks before joining – in January 2022. Laura signed a new long-term contract on the eve of this season.