Arsenal will face Manchester United on Friday night at Meadow Park, as the race for Champions League qualification reaches a crescendo in the Women’s Super League (WSL).
With just six matches left in the season, Friday’s winners will be in pole position to snatch the third and final European qualification spot.
United currently occupy third place, but a win for Arsenal would see them move within three points of their rivals – with a crucial game in hand.
Arsenal have only finished outside the top three once in the WSL, but the competition is quickly morphing beyond their control.
Manchester United’s emergence only cements this: despite being founded in 2018 – more than 30 years after Arsenal – United have defied heritage and gatecrashed the top three.
By announcing the double signing of American two-time World Cup winners Tobin Heath and Christen Press in September last year, United signalled their intent to challenge for titles.
For Arsenal to stem United’s upward momentum, a win on Friday will be crucial.
On the back of consecutive 4-0 away wins, manager Joe Montemurro told the press after the win over Birmingham that “it was really nice to get back to our style” in a season ravaged by injuries.
Key players including captain Kim Little and midfielder Jordan Nobbs have been injured for extensive periods, and Montemurro has struggled to field a full-strength team. However, the Birmingham victory saw Little, Jill Roord, Lisa Evans and Leonie Maier all return from injury to feature from the bench.
Once again, striker Vivianne Miedema will lead the way for Arsenal. The Dutch attacker has been the competition’s top scorer in the last two seasons and looks set to continue that form this year. Averaging more than a goal a game in the 2020/21 season, Arsenal’s fortunes closely orbit Miedema.
United, meanwhile, will be without Heath who suffered an ankle injury in February – but they should be boosted by the return of Press. The forward did not feature in their recent win over Aston Villa, but manager Casey Stoney, revealed that this was precautionary.
Nevertheless, for Arsenal, Heath’s absence represents an opportunity to record a statement victory in the most competitive WSL season yet.
