Arsenal defender Amanda Ilestedt expresses her contentment at the imminent return to fitness of Leah Williamson, despite acknowledging the potential threat to her own position in the team.
The England captain, who has been sidelined since sustaining a knee ligament injury last April and subsequently missing the 2023 World Cup, is on the verge of making a comeback. This return puts her in contention to challenge Ilestedt for her spot on the right side of Arsenal's central defense.
Nonetheless, Ilestedt states, "I'm really happy that she is close to coming back," emphasizing the importance of having Williamson back in the squad. She adds, "We need her in the squad."
Ilestedt has forged a sturdy central defensive partnership with Lotte Wubben-Moy, contributing to Arsenal's recovery from a shaky start to compete with champions Chelsea at the summit of the Women's Super League.
While the return of Williamson could potentially disrupt this partnership, there is also the possibility of the England captain slotting into central midfield. Regardless, Ilestedt defers the decision-making on team selection to Arsenal manager Jonas Eidevall, stating, "Who is playing on what side, that is Jonas' decision, so we shall see."
'They are way better at defending in this league'
Ilestedt, among the notable signings for Arsenal last summer, made her move from Paris St-Germain following her contribution to Sweden's third-place finish in the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
The 31-year-old central defender showcased her prowess in attacking set-pieces, emerging as Sweden's top scorer with four goals, securing her a joint-second position for the highest scorer in the tournament. Noteworthy among her goals were a last-minute winner against South Africa, a brace against Italy in a commanding 5-0 victory, and the opener in the 2-1 quarter-final triumph over Japan.
Her goal-scoring feats and overall performances in the World Cup garnered attention in England even before her debut for Arsenal.
Consequently, she acknowledges that in the Women's Super League (WSL), opposing defenders are more adept at set-piece defense, stating, "Yeah, in this league they are way better at defending. That is something I had to work on at the beginning, and I am still working on it. It is tougher in this league."
Having acclimated to life at Arsenal, Ilestedt believes the team is now operating at its best, overcoming a sluggish start that included a surprising Champions League exit at the hands of Paris FC in the qualification stage. This setback was followed by a home defeat to Liverpool at Emirates Stadium in their inaugural WSL game, during which Ilestedt made her league debut as a substitute.
Reflecting on the early challenges, she explains, "When we played in the Champions League, we didn't have enough time to train properly. It takes time to build those relationships.
" However, she notes significant improvement since the opening game against Liverpool, emphasizing the growth in partnerships, particularly with teammate Lotte Wubben-Moy. She underscores the continuous effort put into refining these partnerships through daily training sessions.