Arsenal Women Prepare for Champions Cup Final with Healthy Squad

Key defender Leah Williamson still being assessed but progressing well ahead of Sunday's match

Jan. 31, 2026 at 6:55am

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Arsenal's women's team is heading into the FIFA Women's Champions Cup final against Corinthians with a near-full squad available, according to manager Renée Slegers. While defender Leah Williamson is still being evaluated after a calf strain, the rest of the team is healthy and ready, including the return of Chloe Kelly from a knee ligament injury. Slegers emphasized the importance of squad depth and managing the demands of a busy schedule across multiple competitions and continents.

Why it matters

The Champions Cup final is a high-stakes match between the champions of Europe and South America, and Arsenal will be representing England and Europe in the competition. Having a healthy squad available is crucial for the team's chances of winning the title.

The details

Arsenal manager Renée Slegers confirmed that the team has no new injury setbacks since the semi-final win, with Chloe Kelly available again after recovering from a knee ligament problem. Leah Williamson is progressing well from a calf strain but a final decision on her involvement is still to be made. Slegers stressed the importance of squad depth and managing the demands of a busy schedule, with Arsenal playing across multiple competitions and continents.

  • The FIFA Women's Champions Cup final will be played on Sunday, January 31, 2026.
  • Leah Williamson has not featured since suffering a calf strain in training following her first Women's Super League start of the season against Manchester United.

The players

Renée Slegers

The manager of the Arsenal women's team.

Leah Williamson

An Arsenal defender who is still being assessed for a calf strain but is progressing well ahead of the final.

Chloe Kelly

An Arsenal player who has recovered from a knee ligament injury and is available for the final.

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What they’re saying

“Yeah it's looking good, so same players available. Really happy to have Chloe Kelly back; she worked hard to be back, she's very hungry and faced with a lot of desire so that's great.”

— Renée Slegers, Arsenal manager

“Leah Williamson is progressing really well and we're working towards this game, but there's still a couple of steps to take and there's a training session tomorrow [Saturday].”

— Renée Slegers, Arsenal manager

“Scheduling is very important. We just touched upon how the game is growing. Scheduling is key. So, we grow the game, and we want a lot of things, which is good, but we also have to have the players' health in mind in all the decisions we make.”

— Renée Slegers, Arsenal manager

What’s next

A final decision on Leah Williamson's involvement in the Champions Cup final will be made after a training session on Saturday.

The takeaway

Arsenal's women's team is well-positioned to compete for the Champions Cup title, with a healthy squad and the return of key players like Chloe Kelly. However, the team and league must continue to prioritize player health and manage the demands of a busy schedule as the women's game continues to grow globally.