Arsenal’s £1 million summer signing Olivia Smith has been forced to pull out of international duty with Canada after suffering a nasty hip injury during their 1-0 defeat to Switzerland.
The 21-year-old winger, making her first start for Canada since joining the Gunners from Liverpool, was left writhing in pain after a heavy challenge from Swiss defender Viola Calligaris in the 32nd minute. Smith couldn’t put any weight on her right leg and was taken off on a golf cart, a worrying sight for both Arsenal and Canadian fans.
Arsenal confirmed the bad news in a short statement:
“Olivia Smith has withdrawn from international duty after sustaining a hip injury in Canada’s 1-0 defeat to Switzerland on Friday. The 21-year-old forward has returned to Arsenal for further assessment and treatment.”
Canada boss Casey Stoney was furious after the game, insisting the officials missed a clear foul.
“From where I stood, it was definitely a foul,” she said, adding her side “didn’t feel like we got an awful lot of decisions.”
It’s another cruel blow for Smith, who was stretchered off earlier this year after just 13 minutes of a friendly against Haiti. When asked if the young star was being targeted, Stoney replied:
“I really hope not.”
A two-time Canada Youth Player of the Year and one of the country’s brightest prospects, Smith has already earned 19 senior caps and three goals. But her latest setback couldn’t have come at a worse time for Arsenal.
The Gunners are already battling an injury crisis, with Katie Reid, Lotte Wubben-Moy, and Daphne van Domselaar all sidelined. Smith’s absence piles more pressure on ahead of a huge WSL clash with Leicester, and a mouth-watering showdown against Chelsea at the Emirates on November 8.
Arsenal’s medical team will now determine how bad the damage is, but fans will be praying this one isn’t serious.
