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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>Williamson spent lengthy spell out injured</li><li>Made return last month amid much fanfare</li><li>Distances herself from acclaim</li></ul>

'It would overwhelm me' - Arsenal and Lionesses star Leah Williamson admits she becomes 'glazy' to deal with fan attention

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The Gunners defender had been sidelined since April 2023 with a devastating ACL injury, missing the Lionesses' memorable World Cup run as a result. Williamson made her return to the action last month with <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/mary-earps-lionesses-team-mate-leah-williamson-message-arsenal-return-acl-injury/bltc744fb343193998a" target="_blank">a substitute appearance for Arsenal against Reading</a>. Fans were naturally thrilled at the sight of their star player returning to the fray, but Williamson admits that that attention can get too much sometimes.

WHAT HAPPENED?

Speaking to <a href="https://twitter.com/SkySportsWSL/status/1758787117935890467" target="_blank">Sky Sports</a> before the Gunners' clash against Manchester United on Saturday, the defender explained: "I want people to know how much I appreciate the support, the appreciation of me as a footballer. But I find it... I have to be a bit glazy about it in terms of staying back from getting too involved in the noise, because otherwise it would overwhelm me. I never want people to take that as me not appreciating it [the support]."

WHAT WILLIAMSON SAID

Less than two weeks after her first substitute appearance for the Gunners, she made her <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/lionesses-leah-williamson-return-acl-injury-arsenal/blt7198e8b6f7587d72" target="_blank">first Arsenal start in 10 months</a> in a clash against West Ham. Williamson was then <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/leah-williamson-england-lionesses-sarina-wiegman-squad-austria-italy/blt97b91b494bfed001" target="_blank">recalled to Sarina Weigman's England squad </a>earlier this week for the Lionesses' upcoming fixtures against Austria and Italy.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

While her ACL recovery is practically complete, Williamson suffered a last-minute injury setback ahead of Saturday's clash against United, this time to her hamstring. The Gunners will therefore be without their captain as they <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/arsenal-season-falling-apart-man-utd-wsl/blt5e782de6444bbb40" target="_blank">chase all three points in order to keep their WSL title hopes alive</a>.

WHAT NEXT FOR WILLIAMSON?

'It would overwhelm me' - Arsenal and Lionesses star Leah Williamson admits she becomes 'glazy' to deal with fan attention | Goal.com

Arsenal and England defender Leah Williamson has opened up on how she has to distance herself from fan attention to avoid feeling &quot;overwhelmed&quot;.