Olivia Smith stretchered off and taken to hospital after head injury

Arsenal forward Olivia Smith was stretchered from the field and taken to hospital after suffering a worrying head injury during the Women’s FA Cup tie with Bristol City. She received lengthy treatment on the pitch, was fitted with a neck brace and carried off to undergo medical checks, prompting a standing ovation and 14 minutes of stoppage time.

A full diagnosis is yet to be delivered, though Arsenal said they were "hopeful" the knock is not too serious and it was suggested she may have suffered a concussion. The 21-year-old became the women’s game’s first £1 million player when she moved from Liverpool to Arsenal in the summer of 2025, but injuries have hampered her progress in north London.

A hip ailment suffered on international duty in October disrupted her season, and supporters noted her recent run of bad luck with injuries. Smith has scored eight goals in her debut campaign and remains Arsenal’s second-highest scorer across all competitions.

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