Preview: Chelsea Women vs Arsenal Women – prediction, team news, lineups

Arsenal Women will make the short trip to Stamford Bridge for Saturday’s London derby against Chelsea Women.

The Gunners sit third in the Women’s Super League table, while the Blues are four points better off in second.

Match Preview

Chelsea face a real battle to win a seventh consecutive WSL title, with six points separating them from leaders Manchester City having won eight, drawn three and lost one of their 12 league matches this season.

The Blues have won and recorded resounding victories in their two WSL matches since losing to Everton on December 7, eliminating Brighton & Hove Albion via a 3-0 scoreline before beating West Ham United 5-0.

The victories are part of a run of seven wins in all competitions, with their most recent success coming in the Women’s League Cup semi-final against Manchester City.

Wieke Kaptein’s 41st-minute effort proved enough to guide Chelsea to a narrow 1-0 victory, setting up a final clash against Manchester United in March.

Having kept their hopes of retaining the League Cup alive, Sonia Bompastor’s side will focus on a tricky test against London rivals Arsenal, who they have beaten in each of their previous four competitive home encounters.

The Blues will feel they have the quality to nullify Arsenal’s attacking quality, given they have the best defensive record in the WSL with just six league goals conceded this season.

© Imago / Cristal Pix

Unlike Chelsea, the Gunners will have to bounce back from a midweek defeat after falling short in their League Cup semi-final against Manchester United at Meadow Park.

Elisabeth Terland broke the deadlock in first-half stoppage time, before Arsenal’s hopes of overturning the tie in their favor were dealt a blow when Olivia Smith was sent off in the 61st minute for two bookable offences.

The Gunners ultimately failed in their quest for an equalizer as their nine-game unbeaten run ended in disappointing fashion.

Arsenal will now turn their attention to their bid for a top-three finish, with goal difference alone keeping them above Tottenham Hotspur, while they are just one point better off than Man United in fifth place.

The Gunners will be desperate to avoid dropping points this weekend, but that could prove tricky as they have not played an away game against Chelsea since losing 5-0 in October 2018.

They at least avoided defeat in the reverse encounter between the two rivals in November, when Alessia Russo equalized in the 87th minute in a 1-1 draw at the Emirates Stadium.

Chelsea Women’s Super League form:

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Chelsea Women form (all competitions):

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Arsenal Women’s Super League form:

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Arsenal Women Form (all competitions):

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Team News

© Imago / IMAGO / Sportimage

The hosts cannot call on Kadeisha Buchanan, Nathalie Bjorn, Niamh Charles, Catarina Macario and Mayra Ramirez.

Midfielder Keira Walsh is close to returning to fitness, but it remains to be seen whether she will be ready for Saturday’s game.

Striker Lauren James is in contention to start after coming off the bench to play for around half an hour in the League Cup semi-final win over Man City.

As for Arsenal, Slegers remains without the services of Katie Reid, Manuela Zinsberger and Chloe Kelly.

Leah Williamson will miss a second successive match with a calf problem, while Emily Fox remains a doubt after missing Wednesday’s League Cup defeat.

Smith’s dismissal against Manchester United means she will serve a one-match suspension for Sunday’s match.

Possible Chelsea Women starting line-up:

Hampton; Bronze, shiny, Girma; Carpenter, Cuthbert, James, Nusken, Baltimore; Kerr, Thompson

Arsenal Women possible starting XI:

Van Domselaar; Hinds, Wubben-Moy, Catley, McCabe; Small, Caldentey; Mead, Russo, Foord; Blackstenius

We say: Chelsea Women 2-1 Arsenal Women

Chelsea were denied a narrow victory by a late Russo equalizer in November’s encounter at the Emirates, but with home advantage now in their favor we think the Blues will do enough to take all three points, especially as they have won each of their last four home games.

For data analysis of most likely outcomes, scores and more for this match, please click here.