Arsenal injuries pile up ahead of Chelsea title clash
Renee Slegers’ side saw off Leicester 4-1 to maintain momentum ahead of next weekend’s title showdown with Chelsea, but injuries continue to limit their options.
Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images
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Arsenal showed no ill effects from the international break, apart from numerous injuries, with a comfortable 4-1 win at Leicester giving the team good momentum ahead of the Chelsea game next Saturday.
Arsenal are currently fifth with 14 points, five behind leaders Chelsea, and, given the title holders rarely drop points, this will be a must-win game.
The four teams ahead of the Gunners (Chelsea, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham) all won this weekend, which doesn’t change anything at either end of the table.
Liverpool and West Ham remain without a point after six and seven matches respectively.
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Renee Slegers sold a lie to the press on Friday when she said everyone was in good shape except Manuela Zinsberger and Leah Williamson. When the team sheet was released, four other players were missing: Olivia Smith, Frida Maanum, Kyra Cooney-Cross and Lotte Wubben-Moy.
She said in the mixed zone: “It’s little knocks, problems and illnesses. So I’m hoping to recover some for the Chelsea game, but we’ll see how everything develops during the week.”
Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images
This meant three players were part of a WSL team for the first time: Jenna Nighswonger, Sophie Harwood and Amy Liddiard. Nighswonger came on for the final 15 minutes, becoming the 20th player Renee Slegers has used this season.
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Among the remaining professionals are Manuela Zinsberger, who is out for the season with an ACL injury, and Leah Williamson, who is yet to return from her knee injury suffered at the Euros. Anneke Borbe, the third goalkeeper, is the only other professional without playing time. Academy players Sophie Harwood and Amy Liddiard have not yet featured, as expected.
Laia Codina made her first start, Emily Fox was rested and Taylor Hinds played very well at right back. Beth Mead was in brilliant form on one wing, as was Caitlin Foord on the other. Stina Blackstenius was also superb in a match that suited her tactically.
Considering Leicester play with the same system as Chelsea, using a three-man defense with high full-backs, it was an ideal rehearsal for next Saturday’s match.
There will be plenty of space to attack between Chelsea’s three defenders and their full-backs. We saw Freya Godfrey exploit this space on several occasions on Saturday, so an in-form Olivia Smith or Beth Mead should be able to do the same, with Caitlin Foord providing a similar threat on the opposite side.
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The main question will be how many players return from injury. Arsenal should have a strong starting XI next Saturday, but could still be short of game-changing players on the bench, after naming two goalkeepers and just 19 players against Leicester.