Preview: Arsenal Women v West Ham United | Pre-Match Report | News

the hammers move away from the fall

West Ham have had a difficult start to the season, losing their first seven league matches, one of which ended in a 5-1 defeat to us in the reverse fixture. But since the arrival of manager Rita Guarino in December, things have improved for the Hammers.

The east London side started the new year with just five league points but have won seven in their last five games as things start to pick up under a new boss.

After a 2-1 victory over relegation rivals Leicester City, the Hammers produced an outstanding late comeback to beat Brighton 3-2 despite being 2-0 up in the 81st minute. Fittingly, it was the result that lifted West Ham off the bottom of the table.

Defeats to Everton in the Championship and Brighton in the FA Cup then threatened to sour the mood in east London as Guarino saw his side lose consecutive games for the first time in his tenure.

But with their match against Manchester United pushed back from last weekend to Wednesday evening due to the Subway Women’s League Cup final, the Hammers used the extra days off to their advantage and secured an impressive 0-0 draw against the Red Devils at Chigwell Construction Stadium.

West Ham now travel to north London, three points off the bottom of the WSL table, even though bottom Leicester have played a game less.

what managers say

Slégers: “We know what they can bring with very hard work. With all the play, with running in behind, with dribbling. So we will have to be very disciplined when we defend. They were rewarded for their hard work against United.

They kept very small spaces, they defended as a unit, so if they do that too against us at the Emirates tomorrow we will have to be ready to break them and they won’t make it easy for us.

Guarino: “Arsenal are creating a lot of chances, so it’s another game we need to focus on defensively. We know how strong they are and how dangerous they can be.

We have studied all the scenarios in which they can play. But in a way nothing changes because in all their forms they are strong, so we have to focus on what we have to do. I think of us.”

team news

Frida Maanum was ill last week and is therefore unlikely to take part in the London derby on Saturday. Leah Williamson is also a doubt after battling a hamstring problem since our 2-0 win over London City last weekend.

Aside from Frida and Leah, everyone else in attendance at Copperjax Community Stadium last week is available again to take on the Hammers.

facts and statistics

Renée Slegers could become the first coach in WSL history to avoid defeat in each of her first 16 home matches as manager; she is currently tied with Chelsea’s Sonia Bompastor with 15.

We have won 12 of our last 14 WSL games against West Ham United, including all seven games we have played at home, scoring at least twice in each of those wins.

West Ham have lost each of their last six London derbies, most recently winning one in April 2025 when they beat Crystal Palace 7-1 away.

Only Vivianne Miedema (71) and Jodie Taylor (84) have a better minutes per goal or assists rate for us in the WSL than Chloe Kelly (95 minutes, seven goals and six assists), who has two goals and two assists in her last three league starts.

Since joining the league in 2025, West Ham’s Shekiera Martinez has scored more WSL goals in London derbies than any other player (eight), including the German’s first away goal in the competition against us in March last year.

Beth Mead has only been directly involved in more WSL goals against Chelsea (14) than against West Ham United (13 – five goals, eight assists); his eight assists against the Hammers are the most any player has scored against a single opponent in the competition.

match officials

Phoebe Cross will take charge of the London derby on Saturday in what will be her tenth WSL match of the season.

In the nine league matches so far this campaign, Cross has handed out 23 yellow cards and awarded three penalties, although all three penalties were awarded in his first two games of the campaign.

This will be the second time Cross has taken charge of one of our league matches this season; our paths last crossed at the King Power Stadium when she oversaw our 4-1 win over Leicester City in November.

Arbitrator: Phoebe Cross
Assistant referees: Jon Ashworth-Sears, Phoebe Horner
Fourth official: Stacey Pearson

how to watch

We’ll be streaming the match live on the Arsenal app and on Arsenal.com, so make sure you tune in from 11:55am to watch our clash with the Hammers!

Alternatively, many other broadcasters around the world are also showing the match live.