Vivianne Miedema has been granted a leave of absence from Arsenal until after the international break to ‚recharge‘.

The forward will miss Arsenal’s WSL trip to bottom side Leicester on Sunday – the Gunners‘ final fixture before the international break.

Miedema has not been included in the Netherlands squad for November’s international camp for their pair of home friendlies against Costa RIca and Denmark.

“Viv has been granted some time off to rest and recharge,“ Arsenal told The Athletic. „We are supporting her closely and she will return following the international break.”

Arsenal face a potential table-topping clash with Manchester United at the Emirates on 19 November – their first game following the international break. Just goal difference currently separates the pair at the WSL summit.

Miedema – the WSL’s all-time top scorer – has scored three goals in nine appearances in all competitions this season.

The 26-year-old signed a new contract with the Gunners this summer, much to the delight of supporters, having been linked with a move to Barcelona with her deal poised to expire.

Miedema has been used as a substitute in recent weeks, with Frida Maanum preferred to her in the number 10 role against Lyon and subsequently keeping her place in the side for Arsenal’s following two WSL matches. Miedema did come into the starting XI against Zurich in the Champions League and led the line for the Gunners.

The forward also saw her Euro 2022 campaign disrupted by Covid-19, missing her side’s final two group matches after testing positive and being forced to self-isolate for 10 days.