Arsenal forward picks up injury in training | OneFootball

Lina Hurtig’s long-awaited return to the Swedish national team has been cut short after the Arsenal forward sustained a new injury during training, forcing her to withdraw from next month’s UEFA Nations League fixtures.

Photo by Buda Mendes/Getty Images

The 29-year-old had been named in Peter Gerhardsson’s squad for the matches against Italy on 4 April and Wales on 8 April, her first call-up since December 2023. But just days after being recalled, Hurtig suffered an injury during Arsenal’s final training session before their UEFA Women’s Champions League quarter-final second leg against Real Madrid.

Arsenal went on to win that tie 3–0 at the Emirates Stadium, overturning a 2–0 first-leg deficit to reach the semi-finals, but Hurtig played no part after sustaining the injury.

“After contact with Arsenal’s medical team, it is clear that Lina will not be available for our upcoming training camp due to injury,” said Sweden national team doctor Houman Ebrahimi. “A very sad news of course, both for us and for Lina herself, and we wish her a speedy return to the football field.”

Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images

No replacement has yet been announced, with Sweden’s coaching staff expected to confirm a decision in the coming days.

Hurtig’s return had been anticipated as a key moment in her international career following a difficult year. After last appearing for Sweden in a Nations League match against Switzerland on 1 December 2023, she was sidelined by injury and later ruled out for the rest of the 2023/24 campaign due to personal reasons, as confirmed by Arsenal in April last year.

She made her club comeback in October and scored a decisive goal against Juventus in November, helping Arsenal qualify for the Champions League quarter-finals. Her performances had sparked hope of a renewed role for both club and country.

Now, her latest setback raises further questions about her availability heading into the European Championship in Switzerland this summer, for which Sweden are still in contention to qualify.