Arsenal's injured Caldentey out for up to 10 weeks
Retold by Oddsrama · 15 October 2026
Arsenal's hopes of climbing the Women's Super League table have taken a significant hit with the news that midfielder Mariona Caldentey faces up to 10 weeks on the sidelines. The Spain international picked up a hamstring injury during the Gunners' 4-2 loss to Manchester City on 4 October and will miss a lengthy spell recovering. Manager Renee Slegers confirmed the setback is more serious than initially feared, with scans revealing the damage requires an extended rehabilitation period. Caldentey had been in brilliant form—she was named the 2024-25 WSL Player of the Year before the injury struck.
The timing couldn't be worse for Arsenal, who are already struggling near the bottom of the table with just one win from five matches. Slegers' side sit 10th and face mounting pressure as results continue to disappoint. With Caldentey sidelined and fellow attacker Chloe Kelly also unavailable, Arsenal will need to dig deep when they host Birmingham City this weekend. Summer signing Selina Cerci, brought in from Germany, has also undergone knee surgery and will remain out for some time after struggling with the injury throughout her early Arsenal stint.
From a betting perspective, Arsenal's injury crisis adds uncertainty to their near-term fixtures. Without Caldentey's creative spark in midfield, their attacking threat is significantly blunted. Teams facing the Gunners over the next two months should fancy their chances, and their odds for climbing back into contention are likely to drift. Caldentey's recovery timeline of eight to ten weeks means Arsenal will be without one of their standout performers well into December, forcing Slegers to reshape his midfield plans immediately.
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