Arsenal today confirmed the bad news that Danielle Carter, who only recently returned from an ACL injury to her right knee, has ruptured it again.

Danielle Carter after picking up an injury in Arsenal's pre-season friendly against Bayern Munich (Photo via Twitter / ArsenalWFC)
Danielle Carter after picking up an injury in Arsenal’s pre-season friendly against Bayern Munich (Photo via Twitter / ArsenalWFC)

In a short statement, Arsenal said, “We’re disappointed to confirm that Danielle Carter has suffered another rupture to her anterior cruciate ligament in her knee.

“The injury occurred during our Emirates Cup clash against Bayern Munich last month – and Danielle has since been working hard to prepare for surgery.

“The operation will take place in the next few weeks, after which she will begin her rehabilitation programme immediately.

“Everyone at the club will be supporting Danielle fully on her journey back to fitness, and we are all wishing her a speedy recovery.”

Speaking back in October, Carter revealed how hard she’d found the recovery last time out so we can’t imagine how she’s feeling at the minute.

It is a cruel blow.

Jordan Nobbs, who is close to a return after her own ACL injury, recently called for more research into the link between ACL injuries and menstrual cycles, with women more prone to the injury than men.

“Until I got injured I didn’t really know that a lot of women do it while in their menstrual cycle,” Nobbs told BBC Sport.

“I was very tired leading up to that week and I was on the first day of my menstrual cycle.

“I’m not one for saying it was that, but the facts on how so many women have done their knee and been on their menstrual cycle is very high.

“I don’t know if it was down to that but it was a very high factor.”

You can find out what Carter can expect from her rehabilitation in this piece we commissioned about Nobb’s injury when it happened.