Sports Mole previews Sunday’s Women’s Super League clash between Manchester City Women and Arsenal Women, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Manchester City Women will attempt to overcome a major obstacle in their title bid when they welcome Arsenal Women to the Joie Stadium on Sunday.
The Citizens are in pole position to claim their second WSL title, while the visitors will head into the weekend in third place.
Match preview
© Reuters
Last Sunday, Manchester City eased to a 4-0 win over Bristol City to move six points clear at the top of the WSL table.
After playing out a goalless first half, Man City moved through the gears to score four goals in the final half-hour thanks to a Mary Fowler brace, an Amy Rodgers own goal and an Alex Greenwood effort.
Man City’s title hopes received a significant boost in midweek when Chelsea fell a 4-3 defeat to Liverpool in one of their two games in hand.
As a result, the Citizens know that they will be crowned champions if they claim maximum points in their final two matches against Arsenal and Aston Villa.
In fact, Gareth Taylor‘s side could seal the title this weekend if Chelsea fail to beat basement side Bristol City, while a draw would be enough if the Blues suffered a surprise defeat.
Man City head into Sunday’s contest in a confident mood after winning each of their last 14 league games since losing 1-0 to Brighton & Hove Albion in November.
© Reuters
Arsenal are out of the title race with eight points separating them from Man City, but they could still climb into second spot before the curtain comes down on the 2023-24 campaign.
Although they are unbeaten in five competitive matches, the Gunners would have been frustrated to drop two points in their recent away meeting with Everton.
The North London club appeared to be heading to all three points when Alessia Russo broke the deadlock in the 80th minute, only for Issy Hodson to net a stoppage-time equaliser to deny the hosts a fourth consecutive league win.
Arsenal’s away form has ultimately harmed their chances of winning the title, with their last six away league games producing two wins, one draw and three defeats.
Having failed to win their last seven head-to-head away meetings, the Gunners head into the weekend with aspirations of claiming their first away win over Man City since May 2017.
Manchester City Women Women’s Super League form:
Manchester City Women form (all competitions):
Arsenal Women Women’s Super League form:
Team News
© Reuters
Man City are unable to call upon WSL top scorer Bunny Shaw after the forward sustained a broken foot in the win over West Ham earlier this month.
The goalkeeping duo of Ellie Roebuck and Sandy MacIver are both ruled out, while Jill Roord remains sidelined with an anterior cruciate ligament injury.
Kerstin Casparij is in contention to start at right-back after she was introduced as a half-time substitute against Bristol City.
As for the visitors, Jonas Eidevall has confirmed that Viviane Miedema will drop out of the matchday squad due to a knee problem.
The Gunners are also having to cope without Lotte Wubben-Moy and Lia Walti, but goalkeeper Sabrino D’Angelo will feature on the bench after being declared fit for the weekend.
Russo will be looking to continue her fine form of form, having scored four goals across Arsenal’s last three matches.
Manchester City Women possible starting lineup:
Keating; Casparij, Aleixandri, Greenwood, Ouahabi; Park, Hasegawa, Coombs; Fowler, Hemp, Kelly
Arsenal Women possible starting lineup:
Zinsberger; Fox, Williamson, Catley, McCabe; Pelova, Little; Mead, Russo, Foord; Blackstenius
We say: Manchester City Women 2-1 Arsenal Women
Man City may be without their top scorer, but they still possess an array of attacking quality, and we think they will continue their fine run of form by claiming a narrow victory in Sunday’s clash with Arsenal.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.