Arsenal Women head into a major Women’s Super League clash with Chelsea with several players still working their way back from injury.
Renée Slegers’ squad remain unbeaten domestically, but availability has already become an important issue during the opening weeks of the 2026/27 campaign.
Daphne van Domselaar, Katie Reid and Michelle Agyemang have all been unavailable since the beginning of the season, while summer signing Élisa de Almeida has also recently joined the injury list.
This page will serve as Read Arsenal’s rolling Arsenal Women injury news tracker throughout the season, with the latest available information on return dates and squad fitness.
Arsenal travel to Stamford Bridge on Sunday 27 September, with supporters able to find the Chelsea vs Arsenal Women TV channel and live-stream details here.
Latest Arsenal Women injury list
| Player | Injury | Current status | Expected return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daphne van Domselaar | Knee | Out | October being targeted |
| Michelle Agyemang | ACL | Rehabilitation | No firm date |
| Katie Reid | ACL | Rehabilitation | 2026/27 season |
| Élisa de Almeida | Muscular | Out in latest update | No firm date |
Daphne van Domselaar injury latest
Injury: Knee
Status: Out
Potential return: October 2026
Daphne van Domselaar remains unavailable after undergoing a knee procedure during the off-season.
The Netherlands international has yet to feature competitively for Arsenal this season and was also left out of the club’s UEFA Women’s Champions League league-phase squad.
Slegers has, however, provided some encouragement over her recovery.
Reporting on the goalkeeper’s rehabilitation says Arsenal currently have October in mind for a possible return, although the head coach has stressed that the timetable remains dependent on how Van Domselaar responds as her workload increases.
There is therefore no confirmed comeback date yet.
Read Arsenal previously explained why Van Domselaar was omitted from Arsenal Women’s Champions League squad.
Her absence has resulted in Misa Rodríguez taking the starting goalkeeper role during the opening weeks of the campaign.
Michelle Agyemang injury latest
Injury: ACL
Status: Rehabilitation
Return date: Not confirmed
Michelle Agyemang remains on the long-term injury list following the anterior cruciate ligament injury she suffered while on England duty in October 2025.
The striker subsequently returned to Arsenal from her loan spell at Brighton in January to continue her rehabilitation in north London.
The BBC confirmed Agyemang returned to Arsenal specifically to continue her ACL recovery.
She has progressed sufficiently to be involved in rehabilitation work at Arsenal, but there has been no reliable confirmation of a precise competitive return date.
That makes it important not to rush expectations around the 20-year-old.
Agyemang’s recovery is particularly significant because she returned from an impressive period of development with Brighton and remains one of Arsenal and England’s highest-rated young forwards.
Katie Reid injury latest
Injury: ACL
Status: Rehabilitation
Return date: Not confirmed
Katie Reid is also recovering from a serious knee injury.
The defender ruptured her anterior cruciate ligament during training in November 2025, ending a breakthrough season in which she had established herself as an important first-team option.
The BBC reported at the time that Reid would miss the remainder of the 2025/26 campaign.
There have been encouraging signs since.
Reid has returned to elements of training as she continues her rehabilitation programme, although Arsenal have yet to confirm a firm date for her return to competitive action.
Reports around her recovery have suggested a comeback during the 2026/27 season, with Arsenal understandably taking a cautious approach after such a significant injury.
Her eventual return would give Slegers another valuable central-defensive option during a demanding domestic and European schedule.
Élisa de Almeida injury update
Injury: Muscular
Status: Out in latest confirmed squad update
Return date: Unknown
Élisa de Almeida’s situation has changed during September.
The summer signing was initially available for selection after joining Arsenal from Paris Saint-Germain.
Slegers confirmed before the Crystal Palace match that De Almeida was available, saying the French defender could be selected.
However, she subsequently suffered a muscular problem.
The latest confirmed injury update ahead of the Manchester United game stated that De Almeida would not be available after picking up the issue during the week.
That means she should currently be considered an injury doubt rather than fully fit until Slegers provides another update before Chelsea.
The centre-back’s availability is particularly important because Arsenal are already without Reid and have been operating with reduced defensive depth.
Arsenal Women squad fitness ahead of Chelsea
Sunday’s trip to Chelsea represents one of Arsenal’s biggest tests of the early WSL season.
Slegers’ side have taken five points from their opening three league matches after beating Brighton before draws against Crystal Palace and Manchester United.
Their latest WSL match ended 1-1 after Smilla Holmberg’s stoppage-time equaliser, with our Arsenal Women player ratings against Manchester United highlighting the teenager’s impact from the bench.
The immediate question ahead of Stamford Bridge will be whether De Almeida can return to the defensive group.
Van Domselaar, Agyemang and Reid are all unlikely to be considered for the Chelsea match based on the most recent updates.
Arsenal will therefore again rely heavily on the depth Slegers has built across the summer.
When will Daphne van Domselaar return?
Arsenal are currently working towards a possible return during October.
That should not yet be treated as a confirmed date.
The club’s plans have changed during her rehabilitation and Slegers has made clear that Arsenal will judge her progress according to how the goalkeeper’s knee responds to increased training loads.
When will Katie Reid return for Arsenal Women?
Reid is progressing through her recovery from an ACL injury but Arsenal have not publicly confirmed an exact return date.
Her rehabilitation has advanced into the 2026/27 campaign, and she will be reintegrated gradually when medical staff believe she is ready.
When will Michelle Agyemang return?
Agyemang is also continuing her rehabilitation from an ACL injury.
No firm return date has been announced, so claims that she will definitely return in December should be treated cautiously until Arsenal provide a clearer timetable.
Latest Arsenal Women injury news
The current injury picture leaves Arsenal without three long-term absentees in Van Domselaar, Reid and Agyemang, while De Almeida is the most recent fitness concern.
That situation could change quickly.
Slegers is expected to provide further squad information before Arsenal face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
This page will be updated throughout the 2026/27 season as players return, new injuries are confirmed and Arsenal provide fresh rehabilitation timelines.
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