Full time: Arsenal 5-0 Crystal Palace!

90+5' Goal! Mariona completes her brace deep into stoppage time after Russo hit the post. 5-0

90+2' Williamson is named the Arsenal Women Supporters' Club player of the match. 4-0

90+1' Six added minutes. Nobody here particularly happy, it is freezing and this game is over. 4-0

89' And the Arsenal defender comes close again, Williamson volleying into the side-netting! Would have been some goal. 4-0

88' Williamson's header is cleared off the line by a Palace defender, with appeals for handball waved away. 4-0

86' 3,576 in attendance at Meadow Park. 4-0

85' Arsenal haven't conceded in the WSL since November 3rd, with van Domselaar now on for a fifth consecutive league clean sheet. 4-0

82' Katie Reid replaces Emily Fox. 4-0

78' Palace are a whisker away from pulling one back- Blanchard with a clever ball and Woodham drives her shot across goal, just wide. 4-0

75' Goal! Mariona hit the post from the penalty spot last time out but is cool as you like to find the bottom corner to put Arsenal 4-0 up. 4-0

75' Mariona to take... she missed her last one. 3-0

74' Penalty Arsenal! Blanchard looked to have brought Foord down. 3-0

72' Almost a fourth! Mariona slams an effort towards goal but it's blocked by Kafaji, who couldn't get out the way. 3-0

72' Beth Mead and Kim Little are replaced by Rosa Kafaji and Lia Walti. 3-0

70' Kafaji is being readied to come on, I think Walti too. 3-0

67' Goal! Mead seals the deal for Arsenal, Russo breaking in behind again and squaring for her England teammate to calmly finish past Yanez. 3-0

66' Really impressive impact from Foord off the bench, the value of having a winger on who wants to cut inside onto her stronger foot- Arsenal have missed that directness from their attackers today. 2-0

63' Goal! Russo again- Foord draws a save from Yanez down to her right and Russo is there to lift the rebound into the roof of the net! 2-0

61' Blanchard pulls down Little and Arsenal have a free-kick 30-odd yards from goal. The delivery beats everyone and Palace clear. 1-0

57' Caitlin Foord replaces Frida Maanum. Millie Gelj is replaced by Ashleigh Weerden. 1-0

54' Another chance for Russo who drives past the Palace defence but draws a simple save for Yanez. 1-0

51' Williamson is up from the back to float a cross in and Russo glances it wide of the far post. 1-0

50' KCC then tries her luck from range but her left-footed strike floats past the top corner. 1-0

49' Close! Little with the cutback and Fox's effort is blocked/saved before being cleared off the line. 1-0

48' Russo with a flicked effort over her head that's claimed easily by Yanez. 1-0

46' The second half is underway, with both teams unchanged. 1-0

Both teams are back out for the second half.

It's a chilly afternoon at Meadow Park now- fingerless gloves, hat, two coats, base-layer leggings and two pairs of thick socks are nowhere near enough for me!

Williamson’s goal the difference in a half Renee Slegers’ side have dominated without creating too much in front of goal. Credit to Palace in that regard.

45+1' Mariona's low effort from range bounces kindly into Yanez's arms, and that's half-time. 1-0

45+1' One added minute. 1-0

44' Russo miscues a header from close range and Palace clear. "No switching off" shouts Williamson as half time approaches. 1-0

41' Cato breaks into the box but her cross is blocked well by McCabe. 1-0

39' Neat control from Maanum on the spin inside the area but she prods the ball over the crossbar. 1-0

37' Quiet now at Meadow Park with Palace moving the ball around without much threat. 1-0

32' Spurs have beaten Leicester 1-0 in the early kick-off- good news for Palace who remain just a point adrift of safety. 1-0

30' Arsenal then work the ball back in with another cross and Williamson heads over. 1-0

29' Russo's powerful strike is deflected wide for a corner. Headed away by the first defender. 1-0

27' Veje gives the ball away and Palace stall Arsenal's attack well- the Gunners have been a little shy in front of goal so far, not wanting to pull the trigger very often. 1-0

26' Decent spell of possession for Palace who win a throw level with the edge of Arsenal's box. Easily dealt with by the Gunners. 1-0

21' First chance for the visitors as Gelj finds some space and drives her effort straight at van Domselaar, who saves down low. 1-0

20' Arsenal have dominated since Williamson's opener with some well-worked attacking football almost paying off on a number of occasions. The home fans are enjoying what they're seeing. 1-0

17' Russo gets onto a well-weighted ball from McCabe but her touch is just too heavy and Yanez smothers well. It's all Arsenal. 1-0

16' Intricate move from Arsenal as Mead finds Maanum, who looks for Little with a backheel but Yanez is able to come out and claim the ball. 1-0

12' Excellent delivery by McCabe from deep just evades the outstretched right foot of Maanum who was diving in at the back post. 1-0

11' A deep cross from Mead is claimed by the American shot-stopped Yanez. 1-0

9' It's Williamson's own goal and the childhood Gooner scores Arsenal's first of 2025. "Set piece again" sing the home fans- one club mentality! 1-0

6' Goal! McCabe's corner is swung in and Arsenal lead through an own goal, or is it Williamson? She races off celebrating. 1-0

5' "We've got super Renee Slegers, she knows exactly what we need" sing the home fans. Russo breaks through into the box but Palace defend well. 0-0

4' Palace are lined up in a pretty rigid 5-4-1. Little is brought down on the edge of the box but the referee waves play on. 0-0

1' Underway! 0-0

Here come the teams for the first WSL meeting between Arsenal and Crystal Palace!

The teams are in the tunnel...

Kyra Cooney-Cross partners Kim Little in midfield, with Mariona and Beth Mead on the wings.

Arsenal are without Stina Blackstenius, who is reportedly out with illness. Lia Walti returns to the squad following surgery.

England captain and Arsenal legend Leah Williamson spoke to the Gooner Fanzine about new manager Renee Slegers at London Colney on Friday- here's what she had to say: https://www.onlinegooner.com/articles/view/leah-williamson-speaks-to-the-gooner-fanzine-after-renee-slegers-is-appointed-arsenal-women-head-coach

Laura Kaminski's side have stuck with a back five, and their low block caused Manchester United some issues last time out in the WSL. Annabel Blanchard is not afraid to shoot from anywhere, and has been a shining light for the Eagles this season.

Crystal Palace sit bottom of the WSL but have plenty of reasons to believe they can stick around in the division next season, just a point behind 11th-placed Leicester City, who currently trail away to Tottenham.

Renee Slegers mentioned in her programme notes that Crystal Palace are a similar side to Bristol City, making preparation a little easier. Arsenal have played 11-a-side training games with external referees to get the competitive juices flowing again after the winter break.

Crystal Palace won 6-1 against Championship side Sheffield United in the FA Cup midweek after their initial meeting was called off last weekend. Arsenal's cup tie against Bristol City also fell victim of a frozen pitch, with the sides meeting again at the end of the month- meaning this is the Gunners' first game of 2025.

Crystal Palace won 6-1 against Championship side Sheffield United in the FA Cup midweek after their initial meeting was called off last weekend. Arsenal's cup tie against Bristol City also fell victim of a frozen pitch, with the sides meeting again at the end of the month- meaning this is the Gunners' first game of 2025.

Katie McCabe makes her 21st start this season, meaning she has started every game in 2023/24, the only player to do so.

Arsenal also announced that over 38,000 tickets have been sold for the Gunners' North London Derby against Tottenham at Emirates Stadium next month.

Huge cheers and applause as Renee Slegers' name is announced over the tannoy- the Dutchwoman takes charge of her first game as permanent manager of Arsenal Women this afternoon after signing an 18-month contract on Friday following an unbeaten interim spell.

Palace subs: Majasaari, Gibbons, Athur, Sharpe, Weerden, Larkin.

Crystal Palace: Yanez, Woodham, Veje, Everett, Nolan, Green, Gelj, Cato, Potter, Blanchard, Stengel.

Arsenal subs: Zinsberger, Williams, Wubben-Moy, Codina, Walti, Foord, Wienroither, Kafaji, Reid.

Arsenal: Van Domselaar, Fox, Williamson, Catley, Mariona, Mead, Little, McCabe, Maanum, Russo, Cooney-Cross.

Good afternoon and welcome to our first Arsenal Women live blog of 2025! The Gunners take on bottom side Crystal Palace at Meadow Park, and team news is in...