Harry who?! Watkins makes England case as Kane watches on

How it feels to beat Lionel Messi

Why Man Utd & Liverpool both want Argentine teen Soler

Top 25 African players of the 21st century - ranked

Vini's nightmare goes on as Brazil drop more WCQ points

Mendes responds to Ronaldo criticism of Portugal players

Raphinha surprises wonderkid Yamal with £10k gold iPhone

'Please leave him alone!' - Deschamps sends out Mbappe plea

Real Madrid midfielder announces shock retirement in emotional letter

Rodri admits he wouldn't have even chosen Vinicius Jr. as Ballon d'Or runner-up

‘Can't think long term’ – Ronaldo admits he may not reach 1,000 goals

Endrick set to be offered 'escape route' out of Real Madrid

Twellman reportedly investigated for physical altercation

Article continues belowArticle continues belowArticle continues below<script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script><ul><li>Mead pulls out of Arsenal XI during warm-up</li><li>Gunners finished U.S. tour on Sunday vs Chelsea</li><li>But were without Lioness 10 days before European qualifiers</li></ul>

Lionesses star Beth Mead pulls out of Arsenal's final pre-season U.S. game to create injury concern ahead of the Gunners' crucial Champions League qualifiers

Tottenham Hotspur Women

Arsenal Women

Mead maintained her place in Jonas Eidevall's line-up after starting against the Washington Spirit last weekend, with the coach changing things elsewhere as Frida Maanum, Kathrine Kuhl and the academy trio of Vivienne Lia, Katie Reid and Freya Godfrey all made way. In came Laura Wienroither, Steph Catley, Kyra Cooney-Cross, Caitlin Foord and summer signing Rosa Kafaji, <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/alessia-russo-pre-season-red-hot-form-winners-losers-lionesses-arsenal-washington-spirit-leah-williamson/blta3cbb4a1a297e6d7" target="_blank">who impressed in that victory over the Spirit</a>.

WHAT HAPPENED?

However, a late change had to be made before kick-off in Washington D.C. as Mead had to pull out of the team after the warm-up, with her place on the right wing taken by the versatile Kuhl.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

In a post on X, Arsenal did not offer much detail on the England star's absence, but simply said: "Kuhl has replaced Mead in the XI as a precaution following the warm-up."<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">🔃 Kühl has replaced Mead in the XI as a precaution following the warm-up— Arsenal Women (@ArsenalWFC) <a href="https://twitter.com/ArsenalWFC/status/1827802020985929886?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 25, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

WHAT ARSENAL SAID

The Gunners were also without another Lioness on Sunday, as Lotte Wubben-Moy was missing from the squad. The defender played 45 minutes off the bench against the Spirit last week, but could not feature in the final match of the U.S. tour due to a quad problem. Eidevall told reporters after the match that her absence was also 'precautionary'.

DID YOU KNOW?

The coach will hope that both players are able to return to action quickly, as Arsenal have Champions League qualifiers on the horizon. The Gunners face Rangers on September 4 and if victorious, they will then face Atletico Madrid or Rosenborg on September 7 for a place in the second round of qualifying.

WHAT NEXT FOR MEAD AND ARSENAL?

Lionesses star Beth Mead pulls out of Arsenal's final pre-season U.S. game to create injury concern ahead of the Gunners' crucial Champions League qualifiers | Goal.com

Lionesses star Beth Mead was a late withdrawal from Arsenal&apos;s starting XI as they closed out their U.S. pre-season tour against Chelsea on Sunday.

Lionesses star Beth Mead pulls out of Arsenal&apos;s final pre-season U.S. game to create injury concern ahead of the Gunners&apos; crucial Champions League qualifiers