Arsenal were forced to delete a social media post following sexist comments in response to the presentation of Smilla Holmberg. The 19 year old Sweden international defender joined the club from Hammarby in early January and faced abuse online after her unveiling.

Speaking in the Sports Bladepodden Femme Plus podcast ahead of a World Cup qualifier, Holmberg addressed the situation after the club removed the post. This is an unfortunate reminder that women’s football still faces discrimination despite the sport’s incredible growth in recent years.

Did Not Focus on It That Much

“To be honest, I did not focus on it that much myself. I was mostly proud to have signed and was happy about it. I was busy with everything, there was a lot in my head with the move, finding an apartment, and getting into everything. I was also nervous about everything,” Holmberg said.

The Swedish defender showed maturity in handling the situation by focusing on her professional responsibilities rather than dwelling on the negative comments. Her excitement about joining Arsenal clearly outweighed any disappointment from the abuse she received.

Part of Women’s Football Becoming Bigger

Holmberg added, “It is part of women’s football becoming bigger, then things like that come with it as well. In an ideal world it would not exist. The men also have to put up with a lot that has nothing to do with football.”

When asked about the club’s decision to shut down the comments, she said, “It is hard for me to say if I am being honest. I fully trust that the club is doing the best thing and that they can handle the situation as well as possible. A club like Arsenal knows what it is doing and has good conditions in all positions.”

Arsenal deserve credit for acting swiftly to remove the post and protect their player from further abuse online.

Also read: Chelsea and Lionesses Star Lauren James Reveals Why She’s Often ‘Misunderstood’

Alessia Russo has been named Arsenal Women’s Player of the Month for February after scoring three goals in four games to help the Gunners progress in the UEFA Women’s Champions League and the Adobe Women’s FA Cup. The striker topped the poll with 38 percent of the vote ahead of wingers Caitlin Foord and Olivia Smith.

This is Russo’s second Player of the Month award of the season after her victory in November’s vote. The England international has been in sensational form throughout the campaign, and this recognition is absolutely deserved for her contributions across multiple competitions.

Impressed in Midfield Against Manchester City

The start of the month saw Arsenal come up against Manchester City in the Women’s Super League, with Russo starting in the number 10 position and impressing in midfield. She supported goalscorer Olivia Smith, who led the line in a 1-0 win over the league leaders.

Russo then started on the bench for the first leg of Arsenal’s Women’s Champions League playoff tie against OH Leuven in Belgium, but came off the bench to score the final goal in a comfortable 4-0 victory. Her impact as a substitute proved crucial in establishing a commanding lead.

Scored 50th Arsenal Goal Against Leuven

After the WSL clash with Brighton was postponed, Arsenal returned to Meadow Park to face Leuven once again. Russo was up front for the second leg and scored twice in a 3-1 win, which saw the Gunners cruise through to the quarter final. The second of her goals against Leuven was her 50th as a Gunner, with 16 of those coming in the Champions League.

Russo continued her excellent form into international duty, scoring twice for England in their 6-1 victory over Ukraine before playing 90 minutes in a 2-0 win over Iceland at Nottingham Forest’s City Ground. It is the sixth time in her Arsenal career that she has won the Player of the Month vote.

Also read: Manchester City Defender Pulls Out of England Squad With Minor Injury as Lionesses Confirm Player Will Miss Iceland Clash

Arsenal travels to the BayArena on Wednesday evening in the Champions League last 16 first leg against Bayer Leverkusen. The Gunners are overwhelming favourites after finishing top of the league phase with a perfect eight wins from eight matches, while the German side scraped through via the playoff route with victory over Olympiacos.

Mikel Arteta’s side were absolutely flawless in the league phase, with victories over Atletico Madrid, Bayern Munich, and Inter Milan demonstrating their credentials. Arsenal boasted both the best attack, with 23 goals scored, and the best defence, with just four conceded, across those eight matches. The winners progress to a quarter final where they cannot face Real Madrid, Liverpool, PSG, Bayern, or Manchester City.

Kick-off: 17:45 GMT, Wednesday, March 11, 2026
Venue: BayArena, Leverkusen, Germany
TV: TNT Sports

Saliba, Odegaard and White Doubts for Arsenal

The biggest concerns for Arsenal are William Saliba, Martin Ødegaard, and Ben White, who are all doubts after missing the weekend FA Cup victory over Mansfield Town. Saliba’s ankle problem looks the most serious while Odegaard continues managing a knee issue. Leandro Trossard and Riccardo Calafiori were also withdrawn with issues over the weekend.

The positive news is David Raya, Martin Zubimendi, Declan Rice and Gabriel Magalhaes all returning after being rested for Mansfield. Piero Hincapie is eligible to face his parent club this week.

Leverkusen Missing Seven Key Players

Bayer Leverkusen will be without Mark Flekken, Loic Bade, Arthur, Lucas Vazquez, Eliesse Ben Seghir, Nathan Tella, and Patrik Schick through various injuries. This is a massive blow for Kasper Hjulmand’s side, who have won just one of their last five matches. Christian Kofane should lead the line with Jarell Quansah starting in defence.

Former Denmark boss Hjulmand has steadied the ship domestically, with Leverkusen unbeaten in six home matches, conceding just one goal in 540 minutes at the BayArena.

Predicted Lineups

Bayer Leverkusen (3-4-2-1): Blaswich, Andrich, Quansah, Tapsoba, Poku, Garcia, Fernandez, Grimaldo, Maza, Terrier, Kofane

Arsenal (4-2-3-1): Raya, Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie, Zubimendi, Rice, Saka, Eze, Martinelli, Gyokeres

Also read: Arsenal Legend Confirmed for Soccer Aid Debut as Scotland Icon Joins World XI Alongside USWNT Star Ali Krieger in May Charity Match