Rosa Simkin (@rosatalksball)
Date – 20/01/24
Time – 14:00 (GMT)
Location – Meadow Park, Hertfordshire
Where To Watch – The FA Player (After FT in the UK, live elsewhere)
My Prediction – Arsenal 4 – 1 Everton
Arsenal Women took part in the club’s No More Red campaign against Watford, through their all white home kit.
Image Credit – Alex Pantling (The FA), Getty Images
On Saturday (20th January) title contenders Arsenal take on Everton in their first Barclay’s Women’s Super League Fixture of 2024. Jonas Eidevall’s Gunners will be looking to take all three points at home as they look to work their way up the table from third, but can Brian Sørensen’s toffees cause an upset away from home and take their first victory against Arsenal in the Women’s Super League? Catch the latest team news, form guide, my predictions and more below!
Head to Head:
Total Matches (WSL) – 19: Arsenal (17), Everton (0), Draw (2)
Last Time Out:
Last season the gunners took victory in both WSL clashes with the toffees, the first in December of 2022 by just 1 goal to none, curtesy of star striker Vivianne Miedema. In their second clash in May, Arsenal beat the 10-player side 4 goals to 1, with goals for Caitlin Foord (2), Katie McCabe (1) and Lotte Wubben-Moy (1).
Broadcasting:
Despite being the stand-alone fixture on Saturday, fans were disappointed to discover that the match will not be streamed live in the UK due to UEFA’s Article 48. The game will instead be available to watch on the FA Player shortly AFTER the conclusion of the match. You can however, still catch the game on the FA Player LIVE overseas.
A simple admin error on the side of the clubs, meant nobody flagged the potential blackout issue until tickets had already been sold for the fixture – meaning a decision not to move kick off from 2PM for the sake of the travelling fans. The WSL differs from the Premier League, in the fact that the women’s teams submit when they wish to play their matches, before the start of the season whereas the PL sides don’t choose when they play to start with, the league does so. So, this error is down to the clubs in question, not the FA.
In a time where the Government is looking to lift the 3PM blackout for women’s football in England the error feels a tad ironic – but what’s done is done and lessons can be learnt from the error.
“Unfortunately, the planning was how it was but there is not much I can do about that; it is not my table. It should not happen, but it unfortunately happened, and we learn from it.” – Brian Sørensen, Everton Manager.
Arsenal:
The home side are gunning for silverware as we enter the second half of the season, and after an agonising 1 – 0 defeat away at Spurs during their last WSL game before the break, the gunners will be hoping to take the three points at home for their first league fixture in 5 weeks. With a victory last weekend, at home to Watford in the FA cup which saw the side win 5 – 1 with goals for Alessia Russo, Lia Wälti, Stina Blackstenius, Amanda Ilestedt & Frida Leonhardsen Maanum and also a goal for on loan gunner Michelle Agyemang, who netted for Watford.
Jonas Eidevall’s side have played with a refreshing new energy this season, with their fluid attacking play and effective counter pressing proving key for their success. The sides versatility within positions, has given opponents uncertainty with what to expect but after losses to Liverpool and Spurs, they will have to run a tight ship if they want to pip Chelsea and Emma Hayes of their 6th WSL title in a row. Arsenal showed their class in their first meeting with the Blue’s this season, taking a 4 – 1 victory at the Emirates in front of a 59,000 strong crowd.
Chelsea’s star striker Sam Kerr was ruled out for the foreseeable future last month with an ACL injury, with captain Millie Bright also out until March with a knee injury. The absentees could be a boost for the Gunners, as they rely on the side to drop points however one has to note the class that Chelsea has waiting in the wings to fill the gaps.
It is however, also important not to underestimate this Everton side as manager Sørensen looks to cement his expansive passing play style.
“For the team (Everton) to stay consistent and play the same style week in, week out, I definitely think that is the best way and has more advantages than disadvantages. They haven’t let short term results influence their belief in what they are trying to achieve as a group long-term.” – Jonas Eidevall, Arsenal Manager
Team News:
In – Steph Catley (Missed FA Cup clash vs Watford for personal reasons) & Emily Fox (Winter transfer IN from North Carolina Courage)
Out – Kim Little (foot), Lina Hurtig (back), Teyah Goldie (ACL), Laura Wienroither (ACL) & Kathrine Møller Kühl (loan to Everton)
Arsenal regains the services of Steph Catley this week after personal reasons led to her missing the clash vs Watford last weekend and winter transfer Emily Fox could make her first league appearance after coming in this winter to bolster the defence. The FB made her club debut for the side against Watford last weekend, where she started and played the full 90 minutes at her first opportunity to do so since joining. There is also positive news surrounding England captain Leah Williamson, who is currently in recovery from an ACL injury gained against Manchester United last year. She could make her return to the squad next weekend.
“She’s close. She’s returned to full training. The game [against Everton] will be a little bit too soon but after that I definitely think she is in contention to be in the matchday squads.” – Jonas Eidevall on Leah Williamson
Form:
Arsenal Most Goal Involvements (23/24):
1. Frida Maanum – 8 (6 Goals, 2 Assists)
2 (=). Stina Blackstenius – 7 (7 Goals, 0 Assists)
2 (=). Alessia Russo – 7 (5 Goals, 2 Assists)
2 (=). Katie McCabe – 7 (3 Goals, 4 Assists)
5 (=). Beth Mead – (3 Goals, 3 Assists)
5 (=). Victoria Pelova (1 Goal, 5 Assists)
Everton
Brian Sørensen’s Everton side will be looking to cause an upset away at Arsenal on Saturday, as the side looks to rebuild after a rocky 1st half of the season. Big defeats have come for the side so far against the “big four” in the league, conceding 12 goals and scoring just one against Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea so they’ll be hoping to change their fortune’s against the gunners.
Despite their previous woes, the side will be full of confidence as they make the journey to London, off the back of a 0 – 3 thrashing in the FA Cup last weekend, away to Aston Villa. The smooth passing play out from the back, combined with perfectly timed runs from the wingers led to absolute mayhem in Birmingham, with Villa luck not to concede more! They also make the journey having been unbeaten in their last four away WSL games. Their longest streak since 2011.
Everton are known to play on the more defensive side against the “big four” opting on numerous occasions to adopt a back 5 in defence.
Financial Difficulties
This fixture comes with another difficulty however, with Everton being charged with another set of breaches of the Financial Fair Play rules by the premier league this week. Their first set of breaches led to the Premier League side being docked 10 points in November. The situation will also greatly affect the women’s side. Despite their injury woes and exits in January, the financial situation means the club is unable to recruit heavily in the January market, with manager Sørensen revealing that the signings of Danes Kathrine Møller Kühl on loan from Arsenal and Rikke Madsen on an 18-month permanent deal will be the only signings made by the side in January, unless someone leaves adding to their budget pool.
“We are in the same place, there is no money to sped at the moment. That has been the reality for a while now. That is however a part of football. Sometime down the road maybe it will turn. But again, I am happy with the players I have to work with, and we are trying to find different ways in finding a squad that is good to compete in this league.” – Brian Sørensen
Team News
In – Rikke Madsen (Transfer IN)
Out – Karen Holmgaard, Justine Vanhaevermaet (foot), Katrine Veje (ankle), Kathrine Møller Kühl (Ineligible), Emily Ramsey (ankle), Nathalie Björn (transfer OUT), Alyssa Aherne (return to parent club Manchester United from loan) & Nicoline Sørensen (retirement)
The Blue’s have been heavily affected by injury and other outgoings this season. After loosing star defender Gabby George to Manchester United in the summer window, the recent retirements of Nicoline Sørensen and exit of Nathalie Björn who has joined Chelsea, the club are left to rebuilt. Unfortunately, their woes don’t stop there with four of their stars out through injury and Kühl unavailable despite her recent loan in from Arsenal, as she is unable to play against her parent club.
“Unfortunately we had setbacks on Holmgaard, Vanhaevermaet and Veje. They were all on the pitch but are off now. It’s not so good but hopefully not long term, just a little step down the ladder and then back at it. Kathrine Kühl of course is not able to play, and Emily Ramsey is still out with an ankle injury for a long while.” – Brian Sørensen on the injury situation.
Form
Everton Most Goal Involvements (23/24):
1. Megan Finnigan – 3 (3 Goals, 0 Assists)
2 (=). Toni Duggan – 2 (2 Goals, 0 Assists)
2 (=). Katja Snoeijs – 2 (2 Goals, 0 Assists)
2 (=). Aurora Galli – 2 (2 Goals, 0 Assists)
2 (=). Sara Holmgaard – 2 (0 Goals, 2 Assists)
Match Week 11 Fixtures (19th – 21st January) – All Times GMT
19th:
Leicester City 0 – 1 Aston Villa (COMPLETED)
20th:
Arsenal vs Everton – 14:00, The FA Player*
21st:
Chelsea vs Manchester United – 12:30, BBC Two**
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Bristol City – 14:00, The FA Player
Manchester City vs Liverpool – 14:30, Sky Sports**
West Ham United vs Tottenham Hotspur – 18:45, Sky Sports**
*International only, due to the 2:45 – 5:15 Blackout period the match will not be streamed live in the UK.*
**All games can also be streamed on the FA Player, Overseas only.**
WSL Table:
