Manchester United manager Marc Skinner said on Arsenal:
It’s always who can take the big moments.
We’re going to maximise what we can. We’ve got to play our game effectively as what we’re really good at, but also understand that they can create magic moments and so can we.
Arsenal manager Renée Slegers has said on United:
We expect them to come out and be aggressive and apply themselves as they want to. Of course we see that they pride themselves on their defensive game, their intensity, their aggression.
They have specific qualities, they’ve added to their squad as well. So we’ll see how they start and finish the game tomorrow. We’ll have to be prepared for different scenarios, because depending on the personnel they might want to play, those players play to their strengths.
Leah Williamson makes her first league start of the season, having returned from injury shortly before Christmas. There are not many surprises in either of the starting sides. The visitors have left their debutants Hanna Lundkvist and Lea Schüller on the bench, which is also the case for Arsenal’s new signings, Smilla Holmberg.
The team news is in. There is good news for Arsenal fans as Leah Williamson starts as she continues to build minutes following her injury post-Euros. Anneke Borbe is in goal too with Daphne van Domselaar still sidelined.
Arsenal: Borbe, Fox, Williamson, Catley, McCabe, Little, Caldentey, Maanum, Mead, Smith, Russo.
Bench: Williams, Wubben-Moy, Codina, Hinds, Holmberg, Harwood, Pelova, Foord, Blackstenius
Manchester United’s two big signings Lea Schüller and Hanna Lundkvist will have to wait for their debut as they both start on the bench.
Man Utd: Tullis-Joyce, Sandberg, Le Tissier, Park, Malard, Terland, Rolfo, Riviere, Janssen, Zigiotti, Hinata.
Bench: Middleton-Patel, Rendell, Lundkvist, Turner, Awujo, Naalsund, Drury, Griffiths, Schuller
Hello and welcome to the return of the Women’s Super League. The top-flight took a Christmas break but it is back with a bang with Arsenal v Manchester United.
It is third and fourth in the table going up against one another and it could have further implications for whoever potentially loses as Tottenham are just two and one points behind both teams respectively. Spurs play Leicester tomorrow and could climb the table by the end of the weekend.
We will be hearing the team news for today’s match shortly but one player who will definitely not be playing for Arsenal is Jenna Nighswonger. The American defender confirmed her loan move to Aston Villa this morning.
Manchester United, meanwhile, may have some new faces in their team after some shrewd transfer business so far. One such star is Lea Schüller who could be the difference this afternoon.
Kick-off is coming at 12.30pm GMT so stay tuned for all the build-up for this huge clash.