In the history of the Women’s Super League (WSL) showdowns between Arsenal and Manchester City, ties have been as rare as a quiet night in when there’s a derby on TV – with only one draw in 19 encounters.
Arsenal versus Manchester City Showdown Set for Meadow Park
Location: Meadow Park, Borehamwood
Schedule: Sunday, October 5
Kick-off: 12:30 PM BST
Watch it live: BBC Two, BBC iPlayer, and Sport News Center website & app; follow with live text commentary on the Sport News Center website & app
As we kick off post-international break action in the WSL this November, the tussle for the top could see some seismic shifts.
Arsenal plays host to the table-toppers Manchester City this Sunday, while Chelsea, sitting pretty in second, will leap to the summit if they fend off Aston Villa on Saturday.
Not to be overlooked, Tottenham in fine fettle takes on Everton, West Ham challenges a Bristol City yet to taste victory, and Manchester United embarks on a coastal trip to face Brighton.
Let’s dive into the five pivotal pre-match narratives for this weekend’s fixtures.
Top of the Table Manchester City Faces Arsenal Challenge
With Manchester City setting the WSL pace, they’re perched three points above their upcoming adversaries Arsenal, who are unusually nestled in seventh place.
A loss for the Gunners would widen the gap to a worrying six points, leaving their silverware aspirations in a precarious position.
Past seasons have shown us that the battles among the top four can swing the title pendulum, with the last three championships decided by a nail-biting margin of two points or less.
However, Arsenal’s manager Jonas Eidevall might have reasons to be cheerful as Beth Mead and Vivianne Miedema return from the sidelines, possibly seeing more action in this crucial clash.
Arsenal’s Mead Talks Tough Rehab Journey
Chelsea could usurp City at the league’s apex before the latter lace up their boots on Sunday. The defending champs Chelsea are neck-and-neck with City on points and will square off against Aston Villa on Saturday (12:30 PM GMT).
Villa and Bristol Seek Elusive First Victory
Amidst the league, Aston Villa and newly-promoted Bristol City are hungry for their first points this season after a disappointing start.
Villa’s ambitions for a top-four finish seem distant as they currently prop up the league table, but their manager Carla Ward is confident of a turnaround.
Despite heartbreaking last-gasp losses to Arsenal and Manchester United and leading in three of their four previous matches, Villa’s zero-point status could persist after their tussle with Chelsea on Saturday.
Bristol City, who succumbed to Arsenal in their last match, are set to visit West Ham on Sunday (3:00 PM GMT), hoping to clinch that elusive win.
Spurs’ Thomas in Spotlight for Striking Prowess
Martha Thomas of Tottenham is shattering expectations with her goal-scoring prowess, topping the WSL scoring charts after a blistering start at her new club.
Her six goals in four games are remarkable, and after a hat-trick in Spurs’ recent triumph over Aston Villa, she’s proving to be a 59.6-minute-per-goal machine.
Spurs’ gaffer Robert Vilahamn believes Thomas hasn’t hit her peak yet, expecting her to keep firing Spurs to victories.
Thomas eyes further glory as Tottenham faces an Everton team on Sunday (2:00 PM GMT) that’s had its own share of struggles.
Can the Foxes Keep Defying Odds?
Despite a rocky road in their last WSL travels (winning just once in 14 away games), Leicester City has bucked the trend with an unbeaten run in their last three away fixtures.
Even after a defeat to Manchester City, they’re only three points shy of the summit, marking a stark contrast to last season’s dismal start.
Dubbed ‘Little Leicester,’ they’re not looking so little anymore and are eyeing a continuation of their form against Liverpool this weekend – a side they’ve never lost to in the WSL.
Toone Aims to Break Scoring Drought
Ella Toone of Manchester United, an England midfielder, is eager to snap an 11-month goal drought when her team faces Brighton in the weekend’s final game (6:30 PM GMT).
With a reputation as United’s record holder for goals and appearances, her next net finder has been a long time coming.
Her coach, Marc Skinner, is confident Toone will find her scoring boots soon, banking on her talent to outplay her markers.
The upcoming fixture against Brighton, where United has historically excelled, might just be the stage Toone needs to rediscover her goal-scoring touch.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about WSL fixtures
What are the key matchups in the upcoming WSL games?
The pivotal games to watch are Arsenal facing off against league leaders Manchester City, while Chelsea will look to climb to the top spot as they play against Aston Villa. Tottenham Hotspur, with in-form striker Martha Thomas, will compete against Everton.
How significant is the Arsenal vs. Manchester City match for the title race?
This match is highly significant. A win for Manchester City could solidify their lead, while a loss for Arsenal could see them fall six points behind, greatly affecting their championship hopes. Past seasons have shown that clashes among the top teams often dictate the eventual title winner.
Who is currently leading the scoring charts in the WSL?
Tottenham Hotspur’s striker Martha Thomas is leading the WSL scoring charts, having netted six goals in four games, with an impressive average of a goal every 59.6 minutes.
What has been said about Tottenham striker Martha Thomas’s performance?
Tottenham’s coach Robert Vilahamn has praised Martha Thomas’s performance, highlighting her scoring run and expressing confidence that she will continue to score goals and secure wins for the team.
Can Leicester City maintain their good start to the season?
Leicester City has had a strong start to the season, sitting just three points off the top despite losing to Manchester City in their last game. They hope to continue this form against Liverpool, a team they have never lost to in the WSL.
Is there a player to watch for ending a goal drought?
Manchester United’s Ella Toone is the player to watch. She is looking to end an 11-month goal drought when her team takes on Brighton in the weekend’s final fixture. United’s coach Marc Skinner has expressed confidence that she will be back on the scoresheet soon.
More about WSL fixtures
- Women’s Super League Fixtures
- Arsenal vs Manchester City Highlights
- Chelsea FC in the WSL
- Tottenham Hotspur’s Striker Martha Thomas
- Leicester City’s WSL Journey
- Manchester United’s Ella Toone
4 comments
Ella Toone’s dry spell has got me worried, not gonna lie. She’s a top player but we really need her to start finding the net again, like stat.
Martha Thomas is a goal machine, seriously how did she just slip under the radar like that? Six goals in four games is just insane!
omg, Arsenal vs Man City is gonna be epic! both teams are on fire this season, can’t wait to see who comes out on top. gotta love the WSL!
Leicester’s start to the season is like some kinda fairytale… just hope we can keep the momentum going. Liverpool, better watch out.