Arsenal face Liverpool Ladies on Tuesday night fresh from one of the most disappointing league results in their history. Yeovil collected their first WSL point just a week ago and have still yet to score a goal this season, but managed to hold the Gunners to a hugely disappointing 0-0 draw which leaves their hopes of Champions League qualification hanging by a thread.
Having fought so hard to glimpse the coat tails of the top 2, to have lost ground by drawing with the division’s weakest side is a sizeable setback. Arsenal are also left to contend with further defensive injuries, as Leah Williamson hobbled out of Saturday’s match in Somerset with a muscular injury, which must throw her participation in the FA Cup Final into some doubt.
Emma Mitchell missed Saturday’s match with an ankle problem, while Josy Henning and Jessica Samuelsson are out with long term injuries. Arsenal must decide between an academy prospect like Shannon Cooke- yet to make her full debut- or defensive midfielder Dominique Janssen to fill in at centre half. The latter seems a more likely option. Sari van Veenendaal should return in goal after being rested against Yeovil, Lauren James and Anna Filbey are out.
Arsenal defeated Liverpool 3-0 in the reverse fixture in February, a game made memorable by Dominique Janssen’s outstanding strike from distance. But the visitors have caused Arsenal issues at Boreham Wood in recent years. Jess Clarke looks set to miss out for the Reds, which is a relief as her pace on the flank often causes the Gunners problems. Beyond that, the obvious dangers for Liverpool are Bethany England and ex-Gunner Caroline Weir.
Say whaaaat! @DominiqueJansse ??
0-2 to @ArsenalWFC at HT #fawsl pic.twitter.com/1NQoYMmpkL
— The FA WSL (@FAWSL) February 7, 2018
Weir is an international teammate of Kim Little, Lisa Evans and Emma Mitchell and she possesses a fierce shot from distance, her left foot also has more creative talents too. Bethany England has been a revelation since joining on loan from Chelsea, reinventing herself as a clinical forward. She is the second top scorer in the WSL with 9 goals so far this season.
PLAYER TO WATCH
Beth Mead is Arsenal’s top scorer so far this season and she is the division’s second most accurate shooter with Karen Carney. 73% of her 22 shots have been on target this season. Mead made her name playing through the middle at Sunderland, but has proved herself as an excellent wide forward for the Gunners, with Vivianne Miedema leading the line.
Beth Mead Scores Goal to level the score at 1 – 1, Video courtesy of: BBC Sport, FA Women's Super League 1 #womensfootball #FAWSL #WSUlive #soccer #football #WeAreTheArsenal @bmeado9 @Jmeado9 @JordanNobbs8 pic.twitter.com/UXuCaGpxTL
— WomensSoccerUnited (@WSUasa) April 1, 2018
Mead has adjusted her game and shown a proclivity towards taking players on and cutting inside to create angles for shots. Her solo goal against Chelsea recently demonstrated the perfect marriage of a striker’s appetite with a winger’s thrust. She has been able to forge partnerships with the likes of Dan Carter and Miedema and has probably been Arsenal’s outstanding player this season.
PREDICTED LINE-UP
1.v.VEENENDAAL, 18.EVANS, 20.JANSSEN, 16.QUINN, 15.McCABE, 21.VAN DE DONK, 8.NOBBS, 10.LITTLE (c), 17.O’REILLY, 9.CARTER, 23.MEAD. Substitutes; 2.Scott, 11.Miedema, 13.Moorhouse, 26.Kuyken, 28.Ngunga, 29.Cooke.
HOW TO CATCH THE GAME
The match takes place at Boreham Wood’s Meadow Park and kicks off at 7.30pm. Tickets are available on the gate at £12 adults or £6 concessions. The match is also being streamed live on the FAWSL Facebook page.
Check back after the game for match reaction from one of the Arsenal squad and, later this week, an exclusive interview with Gunners winger and USWNT Legend Heather O’Reilly.
First of all it is great to start covering the woman’s games as Arsenal is a family whether it is men or woman’s football. Having started the coverage of woman’s football. It would be nice if you could provide any links or discuss in a article about the players..I started following arsenal as fan from 2008 and have been a regular arseblog member since then. I would support a player rating thumbnail atleast initially so that we can have an idea of who they are and where they play. I know we can Google it too..but what if information is… Read more »
Good idea. I have a clear day on Saturday, I’ll work something up.
Great!!..thank you for considering it. Arsenal all the way.
Meanwhile Liverpool blogs are writing a very different preview ?
Bummer! I thought we would catch City and Chelsea by the end.
Please don’t do it the Arsenal way….
We always do things the hardest possible way.
Not going to predict the score now, after the last match. :O Hope they will be more clinical this time round. COYG
Well spotted! 🙂
Of course disappointing if we fall short of champions’ league qualification, but at least we’ve proved this season that we’re not out of the debate and hopefully have only been overtaken temporarily by the oil-rich clubs.
Off topic – is anyone going for the FA Cup final? Disappointingly, I’ve been unable to convince any of my mates to go with me (though that may be only cos they all hate me).
COYG