Inside the Preview: Arsenal Women vs. Manchester United Women’ Sports Mole previews Saturday’s Women’s Super League clash between Arsenal Women and Manchester United Women, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Arsenal Women will attempt to maintain their 100% start to the Women’s Super League season when they welcome Manchester United Women to the Emirates Stadium on Saturday.
The visitors, meanwhile, will be looking for a response after they suffered their first loss of the 2022-23 campaign against Chelsea.
Preview: Arsenal Women vs. Manchester United Women
Match Preview
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Including last season, Arsenal is unbeaten in 14 games across competitions, with their previous eight matches all resulting in victory.
They are also the only team in the top flight who are yet to drop points this term after winning their opening six league games.
Before the international break, the Gunners cruised to a commanding 4-0 away victory over Leicester City thanks to goals from Frida Maanum, Caitlin Foord, Steph Catley and Stina Blackstenius.
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As a result of their impressive start to the campaign, Jonas Eidevall‘s side is currently top of the WSL table, level on points with Chelsea who have played one game more.
Arsenal will be looking for another home victory on Saturday after winning their previous seven home league games by a combined 29-3 scoreline.
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Ahead of the previous round of WSL fixtures, Manchester United had also enjoyed a 100% start to the WSL season, but that promising run of form was ended by Chelsea, who recorded a 3-1 away victory.
Sam Kerr became the first player to score a league goal against the Red Devils before Lauren James doubled Chelsea’s advantage.
Alessia Russo set up a grandstand finish after halving the deficit with less than 20 minutes remaining, but an Erin Cuthbert strike in stoppage time ended Man United’s hopes of recording a positive result.
Although they are no longer unbeaten in the WSL, Man United are still yet to drop points on their travels after winning all three of their away league games without conceding.
In their last two away meetings with Arsenal, the Red Devils have recorded a 1-0 League Cup win and a 1-1 draw in the WSL, and if they can claim a victory on Saturday then they will move level on points with the Gunners.
Arsenal Women Women’s Super League form:
Arsenal Women form (all competitions):
Manchester United Women Women’s Super League form:
Manchester United Women form (all competitions):
Team News
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Arsenal are still unable to call upon Leah Williamson, Rafaelle and Kim Little due to injury issues, although Vivianne Miedema is set to return to the side following a leave of absence.
Jordan Nobbs is also expected to be available for selection and could feature on the substitutes’ bench despite being forced to withdraw from England duty with a minor quadricep tear.
Blackstenius is currently Arsenal’s leading scorer in the WSL, and she will look to add to their four-goal tally when she leads the line on Saturday.
As for the visitors, they will be without the services of Aoife Mannion, who is currently sidelined with a knee problem.
Ona Batlle is expected to return to the starting lineup after missing the last four matches due to a concussion.
Russo returned to the starting lineup to score her second goal of the season against Chelsea, and the England international will have the chance to find the net once more when features up front on Saturday.
Arsenal Women’s Possible Starting Lineup:
Zinsberger; Wienroither, Wubben-Moy, Catley, McCabe; Walti, Maanum, Miedema; Mead, Foord, Blackstenius
Manchester United Women’s Possible Starting Lineup:
Earps; Battle, Le Tissier, Turner, Blundell; Ladd, Zelem; Parris, Toone, Galton; Russo
We say: Arsenal Women 2-2 Manchester United Women
Man United have proven in their last two meetings with Arsenal that they have the quality to pick up a positive result, and we think they will hold their opponents to a draw to become the first team to take points off the Gunners this season.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting over 1.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips. Over 1.5:data
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