After a dominant North London Derby win before the international break, Arsenal return to WSL action today, hosting West Ham at Meadow Park. Renée Slegers’ side are in strong form, winning four of their last five in all competitions, and they’ll be looking to keep this pace going.

The 5-0 victory over Spurs at the Emirates showcased Arsenal at their attacking best. Mariona Caldentey, who has been in electric form added another goal to her tally, while Alessia Russo, Frida Maanum and Emily Fox also got themselves on the scoresheet to seal an outstanding performance. With momentum firmly on their side, the Gunners will be confident of securing another three points.

A Mixed Bag for West Ham

West Ham sit eighth in the WSL and arrive in decent form, winning six of their games since November across all competitions. However, with the majority of these wins occurring at home, Rehanne Skinner’s side are yet to prove they can consistently deliver results on the road. 

That said, West Ham have caused problems for sides this season. They reached the League Cup semi-finals, knocking out Spurs along the way, and have found an attacking focal point in Viviane Asseyi. The French forward has five goals in her last eight league appearances and scored against Arsenal last February. Keeping her quiet will be key.

Familiar Foes

Arsenal boast an impressive record against West Ham, winning 10 of their 12 WSL meetings. The last encounter, in October, was Slegers’ first match as interim manager, with the Gunners running out 2-0 winners thanks to a Caldentey penalty and a Rosa Kafaji strike. This win kicked off Arsenal’s resurgence under Slegers, and they will look to maintain their dominance over the Hammers once again.

Team News and Key Decisions

Slegers has a full squad available, except for Lotte-Wubben Moy, and after some impressive performances across the team during the international break, there are plenty of options for creating a starting lineup that is as strong as ever. Chloe Kelly could be in line for her first Arsenal start of her loan spell after an exciting cameo against Spurs, and it is possible that this fixture will see Victoria Pelova’s return to the match day squad since her ACL injury last summer.

Final Thoughts

Arsenal will be eager to pick up where they left off. Meadow Park has been a fortress in recent weeks, and another strong performance will keep them firmly in contention for a top three finish this season. As West Ham continue to develop under Skinner, they’ll look to make this a competitive contest, but Arsenal’s attacking depth and defensive solidity should put them in a strong position to take control of the game.