Arsenal Women vs Chelsea Women: WSL Clash Preview

This Saturday, the Women’s Super League (WSL) will witness a thrilling London derby as Arsenal Women host Chelsea Women at the Emirates Stadium. Both teams have had contrasting starts to the season, setting the stage for an intriguing encounter. Chelsea will be aiming to maintain their perfect record, while Arsenal seeks to bounce back from a challenging few weeks.

Match Preview

Arsenal’s Struggles

Arsenal Women, under the management of Jonas Eidevall, find themselves under pressure following a disappointing start to the season. After beginning with two victories in the Women’s Champions League qualifying rounds against Rangers and Rosenborg, the Gunners hit a rough patch. A narrow 1-0 defeat to Hacken was followed by a frustrating draw against Manchester City in their WSL opener, where they needed a late equalizer to salvage a point.

Despite a brief resurgence with a 4-0 win in the second leg against Hacken and a 1-0 victory over Leicester City, Arsenal’s momentum was halted by a goalless draw against Everton. The situation worsened in their recent European outing against Bayern Munich, where they suffered a heavy 5-2 defeat, with former Chelsea player Pernille Harder scoring a hat-trick. With two draws in their opening league games, Eidevall will be eager for his side to replicate the form that saw them secure a 4-1 victory over Chelsea in last season’s home clash.

Chelsea’s Confidence

In stark contrast, Chelsea Women have enjoyed a flying start to their campaign. Under the guidance of Sonia Bompastor, the Blues have secured three consecutive victories, including a narrow 1-0 win against Aston Villa and a stunning 7-0 thrashing of newly-promoted Crystal Palace. After a postponed match against Manchester United, Chelsea returned to action with a thrilling 3-2 victory over Real Madrid in their Women’s Champions League opener, showcasing their attacking prowess with goals from Sjoeke Nusken, Guro Reiten, and Mayra Ramirez.

Chelsea’s current form is impressive, having won six consecutive matches across all competitions, scoring 26 goals while conceding just two. They will be looking to extend this run and secure their first away league win over Arsenal since January 2020.

Team News

Arsenal Women

Arsenal will be without several key players, including Amanda Ilestedt, Lina Hurtig, Laura Wienroither, and Victoria Pelova. However, captain Leah Williamson is set to make her first WSL start of the season after returning from injury. Goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar is expected to reclaim her spot in the starting XI after being benched for the Bayern defeat. Eidevall may also consider recalling midfielder Kyra Cooney-Cross and forwards Beth Mead and Alessia Russo to bolster the squad.

Possible Starting Lineup:

• Goalkeeper: Van Domselaar
• Defenders: Fox, Williamson, Codina, McCabe
• Midfielders: Walti, Cooney-Cross
• Forwards: Mead, Maanum, Caldentey, Russo

Chelsea Women

Chelsea’s squad has been affected by illness, with goalkeeper Hannah Hampton and forward Catarina Macario both missing the midweek match against Real Madrid. Their availability for Saturday’s clash remains uncertain. Erin Cuthbert is also a doubt after missing the last game due to a knock. The Blues will definitely be without Sophie Ingle, Mia Fishel, Aniek Nouwen, Niamh Charles, and Sam Kerr.

Possible Starting Lineup:

• Goalkeeper: Hampton
• Defenders: Bronze, Bright, Bjorn, Lawrence
• Midfielders: Kaptein, Nusken, James
• Forwards: Rytting Kaneryd, Reiten, Ramirez

Prediction

As the two teams prepare to clash, Chelsea enters the match with confidence, having won their opening three matches. Meanwhile, Arsenal is desperate to find their rhythm after a rocky start. However, the Gunners have a strong home advantage, having avoided defeat in their last four home WSL meetings against Chelsea.

Final Prediction: Arsenal Women 2 – 2 Chelsea Women

While Chelsea’s form suggests they may edge the match, Arsenal’s home advantage and the need for a positive response could see them secure a vital point in this high-stakes London derby.

For more insights and data analysis on this match, visit Sports Mole.