Arsenal asked Canada to not select Olivia Smith for the current international window following the hip injury she sustained on international duty last month.
Canada were beaten 3-0 by Japan in a friendly at Peace Stadium, with goals from Momoko Tanikawa, Mina Tanaka and Aoba Fujino as the hosts dominated for long periods. The result extended Canada’s longest losing run since 2019 and sees them without a goal for 364 minutes.
Smith’s absence was confirmed to be at the request of Arsenal. The forward suffered a hip injury towards the end of October while playing for Canada, landing awkwardly in the 32nd minute and leaving the pitch on a golf cart after five minutes of treatment.
She returned to Arsenal for treatment, missed the 4-1 away win against Leicester and then returned on the bench for the 1-1 draw with Chelsea. She was only fit to start against Real Madrid, and was taken off after 62 minutes.
After the original injury, former Gunner and current Canada manager Casey Stoney had expressed frustration at the lack of protection afforded to her players.
Canada were also without injured Kadeisha Buchanan, Gabby Carle and Lysianne Proulx, compounding an already difficult tour. For Arsenal, the priority remains the management of Smith’s recovery, with the club intervening to prevent further risk so soon after her latest setback.