Manchester City Women v Arsenal Women

Sunday, January 23, Kick off 645pm (Sky Sports)

Women’s Super League

Academy Stadium

Arsenal Women’s 5-0 win over Manchester City at Meadow Park in late September now seems like a distant memory. A Kim Little brace, supported by goals from Miedema, McCabe and Williamson, sent Arsenal to the top of the table against an injury-ravaged City side.

The Gunners have remained in the top spot ever since, but with two defeats from two games in 2022 it could be a very different scoreline this time round.

Arsenal were unable to bounce back from a shock defeat to relegation strugglers Birmingham City, with an influx of Covid cases at Reading causing Saturday’s WSL tie to be postponed.

Wednesday night saw the Gunners knocked out of the Conti Cup quarter finals in disappointing fashion, conceding late to Manchester United in a game of very few chances.

Jonas Eidevall was able to hand out debuts to two January signings in the midweek game, with Swedish striker Stina Blackstenius replacing Vivienne Miedema from the bench (more on this in my next column…), and right-back Laura Weinroither also making an appearance.

Weinroither has been brought in to provide competition with Noelle Maritz on the right side of defence, but the absence of Steph Catley on the opposite flank seems to have had a negative impact.

The Australian is away with her country at the Asia Cup, so Katie McCabe has more than capably slotted in at left-back, but the Gunners have really missed the attacking threat that the Irish international has brought this season. Could one of Maritz or Weinroither possibly play on the left hand side to facilitate McCabe as a winger?

After an injury crisis meant that Manchester City were as low as 9th in the league at one point this season, Gareth Taylor has benefited from the return of the likes of Lucy Bronze and the Cityzens are now fifth, just two points off the Women’s Champions League spots.

New contracts for Esme Morgan, Lauren Hemp and Steph Houghton have also rejuvenated City, with Hemp and Georgia Stanway finding the net regularly in recent games. Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw and Ellen White will provide their own problems upfront.

With nine goals in their last two WSL matches, City have found their shooting boots again and beat Bristol City 3-1 in the Conti Cup on Wednesday.

Arsenal will have to counter City’s attacking threat and find a solution to their own midfield problems- Jonas Eidevall still seems to be struggling to discover the right midfield trio. City’s top two goalkeepers, Ellie Roebuck and Karen Bardsley, remain injured, and there is even doubt over the fitness of third choice Karima Taieb.

Kim Little will make her 250th appearance for Arsenal if she features, and Leah Williamson is set to start after coming back from injury.

Three points for the Gunners will maintain their lead over Chelsea.

Sunday night should be a classic at the Academy Stadium, with permutations that could have a massive effect on the title race.