Arsenal Women open their 2021-22 WSL campaign at home to champions Chelsea on the weekend of 4th / 5th September. My understanding is that this match could well be played at Emirates Stadium. The start to the campaign is more punishing still as the second home game of the season will be against Manchester City.
It represents a baptism of fire for new coach Jonas Eidevall and it’s less than ideal considering the number of players the Gunners have at the Olympics (though Chelsea and City have this issue too), as well as a brutal August schedule of Champions League qualifiers that see them take on Okzhetpez in Moscow on August 18th and if they win that game, they will play the winner of PSV Eindhoven and CSKA Moscow for the right to play a two-legged qualifier that will take place either side of the Chelsea match.
My understanding is that Arsenal will look to play a few games at the Emirates next season, with the North London Derby also a big target. Arsenal also play Spurs in the FA Cup quarter-final on 29th September on what represents a free midweek for the men’s team.
The full list of WSL fixtures can be seen here. The Gunners travel to Spurs on November 14th on a men’s international weekend, so that game is likely to be played at the Tottenham Toilet Bowl with the return on March 27th, which also happens to be on a men’s international weekend, making it a solid candidate to be played at the Emirates.
February looks tough for Arsenal with a home game against Manchester United and a trip to Chelsea, Eidevall’s team will finish the season with a home game against Aston Villa with a trip to West Ham on the final day.
To put a positive spin on the draw – we have played more games than ManC/Chelsea before we play them in league, so we should be more match fit. And our annual injury crisis usually starts at the end of Oct.
Same time a potential September of Lyon-Chelsea-Lyon-Reading-ManC sounds like nice soft welcome for Jonas.
Yes, also we will be more of an unknown quantity. City and Chelsea knew broadly how we would set up against them, this time they will have far less of an idea.
I’m excited! Gonna renew my membership asap. Dusting off some EasyJet voucher. I’ll be back in London in no time. Never seen a match at the Emirates, should be really fun.
Also, would love to be at that away section at Tottenham this time.
*Bottleham
The probability to start a season against Chelsea and City is like 0. What the hell? So we have to start strong. Up The Arsenal!
yikes, i was a bit scared by that fixture list; go Jonas!!! Let’s hope for that new manager boost, cuz i’d also really like us to qualify for CL
I too am a bit scared by those opening fixtures. The top places in the WSL are very largely determined by the fixtures between Arsenal, City and Chelsea (last season United joined the party, but they now seem in some disarray). I don’t want it to be over all too soon! And I’d I much rather play Chelsea at Meadow Park than the Emirates. Our home performance against them last year was one of our best, victory snatched away by a very unfortunate last-minute deflected og. The Emirates is not a very intimate stadium; we really must get tens of… Read more »