Kim Little and Frida Maanum were both missing as Arsenal were held by Birmingham City, with the club confirming separate medical reasons for their absences.
Kim Little missed Arsenal’s 1-1 draw with Birmingham City on Saturday because of illness, while Frida Maanum was ruled out with a muscle injury.
Little’s absence was attributed simply to illness. Arsenal did not specify the nature of it, when it began or how long she might be unavailable, and no return date was given.
Her absence, combined with the injury to Mariona Caldentey that will see her out for up to 10 weeks, forced changes in midfield.
Alessia Russo was used alongside Georgia Stanway and Kyra Cooney-Cross, while Leah Williamson captained the side in Little’s absence.
Maanum’s situation was similarly limited in detail. Arsenal’s update said: “Frida Maanum misses out on the matchday squad with a muscle injury.”
The club did not identify which muscle was affected, how serious the injury was, when it happened or how long she might be out.
The absences left Renee Slegers without Little and Maanum as well as Caldentey and Selina Cerci, who has undergone knee surgery.
That reduced Arsenal’s midfield and attacking options and contributed to the reshuffle that saw Russo move deeper, Stina Blackstenius start up front and Olivia Smith return to the starting XI.
Smith’s superb second-half goal rescued a point for Arsenal, but after six games, the team is languishing on just six points. They are in eight place at the time of writing, with five of the six teams below them still to play this weekend. Brighton could leapfrog the Gunners but they are away to Manchester City on Sunday afternoon. Crystal Palace, however, could go above Arsenal with a home win over West Ham.
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