Arsenal No.1 keeper Zinsberger announces pregnancy with her partner

Arsenal goalkeeper Manuela Zinsberger has announced that she is expecting her first child with her wife Madeleine.

The Austrian shotstopper took to Instagram on Christmas Day to share the news with fans on social media, sharing a set of black and white photographs of her and her partner.

The pair married earlier this year after announcing their engagement in 2022, and looked the picture of happiness as shared details about their exra-special festive present.

'A special gift this year,' the pair captioned a collaborative social media post.

'Our family is now growing and we couldn't be happier. Little Baby Zinsberger is on it's way.'

Included in the carousel were pictures of the ultrasound, as well as the 28-year-old posing alongside her partner's growing bump.

Zinsberger first joined the WSL behemoth in 2019, but signed her latest contract extension to continue working under head coach Jonas Eidevall in May of this year.

However, since inking the new deal, Zinsberger has seen her position as the side's No 1 increasingly on shakier ground.

Taking a page from his counterpart on the men's team, Eidevall has attempted to rotate Zinsberger with back-up 'keeper Sabrina D'Angelo, who joined the club in January 2023.

D'Angelo started one of Arsenal's six WSL ties thus far, and has featured for the team during their League Cup journey, most recently during their 3-3 victory on penalties against league rivals Tottenham.

More concerning ahead of the transfer window for Zinsberger has been Arsenal's dogged pursuit of England No 1 and Sports Personality of the Year, Mary Earps.

On the heels of a blistering season for Manchester United, the former WSL winners were keen to nail down Earps after first tempting away her team-mate Alessia Russo.

Arsenal are believed to have tabled a British goalkeepering record fee of £100,000 for the Golden Glove winner, who was about to enter into the final year of her contract with the Red Devils.

Eidevall confirmed last week that the Gunners were preparing to be active in the January market after a patchy start to the season that has left them languishing in third - and defeated for the first time in history in the north London derby.

But United boss Marc Skinner remained confident that his side could cling on to their talismanic goalkeeper as the club thrashed out a new deal.

'The club are working through with Mary (Earps) on what the deal looks like,' said Skinner. 'I sit here hopeful. I think the talks are exactly where it was.

'It's with the club to continue with that. I can't be any more clear that I want Mary to stay at this club.

'She's a huge part of what I want to do and build here but we'll continue to have those conversations. I haven't really got an update yet.'