Arsenal head coach Jonas Eidevall has revealed that Lia Walti will be “out for several weeks” with a knee injury.

The midfielder was not in the squad for the 3-1 win over Aston Villa on Sunday and, asked about Walti’s absence, Eidevall said that the 30-year-old will need some time on the sidelines:

“She suffered a minor knee injury in training this week so she will be out for several weeks. What several weeks means in relation to the season, I don’t know.

“We need to let this go a couple of weeks then we will have a much better picture and we can see if she will be available for the last games of the season. But it is a minor knee injury and that is important to say.”

Arsenal will be without a key player for the Conti Cup final

The Gunners take on Chelsea in the Continental Tyres Cup final at Molineux this weekend and Walti’s injury really couldn’t have come at a worse time.

She has been almost ever-present for Jonas Eidevall’s side this season, having started all but three of their 17 Women’s Super League fixtures.

The Gunners will be underdogs against Chelsea

It’s fair to say that Eidevall’s team were already outsiders to win the Conti Cup even before the news about Walti. They lost 3-1 to Chelsea in the league only a couple of weeks ago.

Even so, anything can happen in a cup final and, despite Walti’s injury, Arsenal have plenty of other talented players in their squad who could turn out to be match-winners.

The likes of Alessia Russo, Beth Mead, Katie McCabe, Caitlin Foord and Stina Blackstenius can all provide moments of magic, but it remains to be seen if they will have enough to overcome a formidable opponent.

Watch the WSL Show in Shots! TV as our pundits discuss the draw for the Women’s FA Cup semi-final.