Arsenal welcome Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium for a mouthwatering top-two clash in the WSL 2023/24.
ARS-W vs CHL-W Match Details
Date: Sunday, 10 December 2023
Time: 13:30 (BST) / 18:00 (IST)
Venue: Emirates Stadium. London
ARS-W vs CHL-W Match Preview
After starting the 2023/24 WSL season with a defeat and a draw, Arsenal have stretched together a remarkable six-game winning run and are now just three points away from matching leaders Chelsea’s point tally. They face the Blues in a cracking London derby this weekend in front of a sellout crowd at the Emirates. Such a rich vein of form will aid the Gunners aiming for a first victory in this meeting in the league since 2021. The team’s attack has been flourishing as well with a whopping 18 goals scored in that period including the 3-0 victory against West Ham in Meadow Park last match. Beth Mead scored her first goal since returning from her ACL injury, proceeding to do with England in the international break, following an audacious opener from Frida Maanum in the win. Carrying the momentum ahead will be key for Arsenal looking at winning the title for the first time since 2018-19.
However, the four consecutive-time winners have predominantly been the masters of title-deciding situations and will be fully confident of repeating their trick again. Chelsea are the only unbeaten team in the WSL this season having won seven of the eight matches, including in their last six, with one draw and 28 goals scored in total. The Blues have hit five in the last two league matches with Lauren James scoring half of the figure including a hat-trick against hat-trick against Liverpool and a brace in the 5-2 victory over Leicester City prior to the international break. Emma Hayes’s team has got the excellent opportunity now to go six points clear at the top with a victory over their London rivals Arsenal. Something which will take them forward to a fifth consecutive title victory. Having won their last two away matches with a combined score of 9-0, Chelsea are expecting to maintain their 16-game unbeaten run in the league.
ARS-W vs CHL-W Team News
Other than Leah Williamson, Laura Wienroither and Teyah Goldie who are all working back from their ACL injuries, Arsenal will have the rest available for this pivotal clash. However, Lina Hurtig will miss out after picking up an injury with Sweden during the international break. Manager Jonas Eidevall is expected to name an unchanged lineup from their win over West Ham last month.
Meanwhile, Chelsea have a number of injury issues to deal with. Captain Millie Bright is out with a knee injury while Jelena Cankovic, Aniek Nouwen and Katerina Svitkova have joined the centre-back on the sidelines. Despite that, the Blues are able to welcome back Melanie Leupolz and Guro Reiten from their respective injuries ahead of the London derby which is a big boost. The dup could make their place on the bench on Sunday.
ARS-W vs CHL-W Predicted Lineups
ARS-W: Manuela Zinsberger; Katie McCabe, Amanda Illestedt, Wubben-Moy, Steph Catley; Victoria Pelova, Kyra Cooney-Cross; Beth Mead, Frida Maanum, Caitlin Foord; Alessia Russo
CHL-W: Ann-Katrin Berger; Eve Perisset, Maren Mjelde, Jess Carter, Niamh Charles; Sjoeke Nusken, Erin Cuthbert; Rytting Kaneryd, Fran Kirby, Lauren James; Sam Kerr
ARS-W vs CHL-W Head-to-Head (all competitions)
Played: 24
ARS-W won: 9
Drawn: 5
CHL-W won: 10
ARS-W vs CHL-W Dream11 Team Prediction
GK: Berger (7.5)
DEF: Perisset (8), Charles (8.5), McCabe (9)
MID: Kirby (7.5), Maanum (7.5), Cuthbert (8), Foord (9)
FW: Kerr (9), Russo (9), James (9)
Vice-captain: Caitlin Foord
Captain: Lauren James
Check out here WSL 2023-24 Full Fixture List
