Lia Walti’s ankle injury means her Arsenal season is over but her World Cup hopes are still alive.

• Walti sustained an ankle injury after a foul during Arsenal’s game against Everton, resulting in a six-week layoff.
• Despite the setback, Walti is expected to recover in time for the World Cup where she will captain the Swiss national team.
• Walti, having recently extended her contract with Arsenal until 2025, remains a significant figure in her club and national team.

The Arsenal world drew a collective breath when Lia Walti, captain of the Swiss national team and midfield stalwart for Arsenal, sustained an ankle injury following a really bad foul during the recent 4-1 league win over Everton.

The incident, which led to Walti being stretchered off in a leg brace, cast a further shadow over an Arsenal side that has suffered far too many serious injuries this season

It was a heartbreaking scene when Everton’s Agnes Beever-Jones challenged Walti, leading to an ankle injury that now threatens to sideline the national captain for six weeks. This regrettable turn of events puts an early end to Walti’s season with Arsenal.

However, we all know it looked like it could be much worse.

Still, the midfielder’s World Cup dreams are far from shattered. Despite the setback, Walti, an instrumental figure in the Swiss squad, should be fit to join the World Cup which kicks off in two months in Australia and New Zealand.

Walti took to social media to address the incident, refusing to blame Beever-Jones for the injury.

She wrote, ‘Thanks for the news. Football is a contact sport, unfortunately, these injuries happen and are part of our game. There is no reason to hate or smear Agnes Beever-Jones.’

Beever-Jones had already expressed her apologies, hoping for Walti’s quick recovery.

Lia Walti injury update – recovery timeframe

After undergoing MRI scans, the initial diagnosis confirmed a six-week break for Walti.

This timeframe implies that she will likely miss the first three weeks of national team preparations for the World Cup.

However, provided the recovery goes smoothly, she should be available for the Swiss team’s opening match against the Philippines in Dunedin on July 21.