Manchester City make their way down to the Emirates tomorrow for a 12.30pm kick off against the Gunners to get their WSL season underway.
Last season the two teams proved themselves strong competitors, but not quite strong enough to knock Chelsea from the top spot
It was City’s shock defeat to Arsenal in the penultimate match that sealed their fate, losing out on goal difference.
Arsenal were knocking on City’s door last season and will be looking for a strong start to put them ahead in what is an ever-growing competition.
The last time these two sides came up against each other, Arsenal’s Stina Blackstenius scored a last minute brace that stunned the Joie Stadium after Lauren Hemp had made a positive start in the match.
This match essentially decided the title race for City and after taking the league’s top goal-scorer, Vivianne Miedema, from Arsenal on a free, they will be out for vengeance.
An exciting squad announcement earlier this week saw Alex Greenwood take on the captain’s armband from a retiring Steph Houghton.
Gareth Taylor’s side has seen some changes throughout the summer transfer window and his list of injured players is relatively small, with a minority out on long-term injury like Risa Shimizu and Jill Roord who both tore their anterior cruciate ligaments.
In more positive news, it has been said that Roord is ‘way ahead of schedule’ in her recovery and will likely be available for selection in the near future.
For Jonas Eidevall’s side, Lina Hurtig is out with a successive muscle injury and Steph Catley will also be missing from the starting line-up.
Following her benched start against BK Häcken, vice-captain Leah Williamson is fit and available for the starting XI.
When asked about Miedema’s move to City, Eidevall said: “We know a lot about her but she also knows a lot about us, so it’s going to be who applies that knowledge best.”
He stressed that while it’s important to get off to a good start in the league, ‘every game is the most important game’.
Featured image courtesy of Abby Rampling.