 Arsenal boss Jonas Eidevall has blamed the state of Sydney's Allianz Stadium for Keira Walsh's devastating injury blow. Shortly after Lauren James opened the scoring with a spectaculr goal, the Lionesss's were was dealt a harsh blow on the pitch. Walsh fell to the ground and clutched her knee, an image that women's football fans have become unfortunately accustomed to in recent months. The Barcelona star was stretchered off the pitch in the 38th minute as manager Saria Wiegman watched on anxiously. At half-time, Eidevall didn't hold back in criticising the dry conditions of the pitch. The Arsenal boss said: 'I think it looks very dry. You can see on the movement when she [Keira] tried to slide with her right foot, then it stops and she then twists her knee. 'I think an example of that was when you saw the celebrations on the first goal that Lauren James did. She tried to knee-slide but as you can see, when she does that, she just stops and falls over. 'It looks funny but that's actually a danger to the player welfare to have such a dry pitch.' It should allow you to slide through. ' Medics prepare to take a distraught Keira Walsh off the pitch (Picture: James Gourley/Shutterstock) He added: 'That's not good enough. 'I'm a big advocate of watering the pitches, it helps the passes go faster but it also prevents situations like this.' In the BBC studio alongside , Ellen White said she was 'devastated' for her former international teammate. Responding, Fara Williams added: 'You saw her reaction and the reaction of her teammates around her. None of us in this room are medics, but you don't need to be a medic to know this is something serious.' The Lionesses entered the World Cup severely impacted by injuries, with Leah Williamson, Frank Kirby and Beth Mead all ruled out. Lauren James scored her first World Cup goal in the 6th minute (Picture: Justin Setterfield/Getty I){kind=link}
NEWS… BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT
Arsenal boss Jonas Eidevall has blamed the state of Sydney’s Allianz Stadium for Keira Walsh’s devastating injury blow.
Shortly after Lauren James opened the scoring with a spectaculr goal, the Lionesss’s were was dealt a harsh blow on the pitch.
Walsh fell to the ground and clutched her knee, an image that women’s football fans have become unfortunately accustomed to in recent months.
The Barcelona star was stretchered off the pitch in the 38th minute as manager Saria Wiegman watched on anxiously.