Arsenal women need to forget the irregularities of Wednesday night away at Allianz Arena and turn their attention to the noisy neighbours, as they travel to Brisbane Road to play Tottenham later today. Jonas Eidevall will have his eyes set on the next leg of fixtures where Bayern Munich travel to Emirates Stadium in the midweek with the Gunners trailing by a goal, which should have been set off for goal-line technology but the German giants were too petty to pay for equality in Women football and goal-line technology. Don’t worry, this won’t happen at the Emirates – we value our men, women & academy team equally.
Playing Spurs women was an frustrating aspect last season, when following a Champions League midweek – Eidevall travelled away to Spurs, coming out with just a 1-1 draw. A similar result today will mean that we’d need to turn our attention to Champions League and forget about that WSL title.
Arsenal have a run of some difficult fixtures with Bayern Much (as earlier stated) to be followed by Manchester City and United after today. It’s a season defining period for us, and its important that the squad turns up despite the injury bows. The Blues from Manchester also plays Chelsea in this round of fixtures, means that a commendable victory today will put Arsenal in a better tabular position as the WSL title turns into a four horse race.
Rehanne Skinner, who changed Tottenham women fortunes for a while was relived of her duties following a run of nine straight defeats. The hosts will line-up in the tunnel of Brisbane Road without having played for ten days. The only thing on their mind would be to avoid relegation, and Arsenal would certainly take pleasure in adding salt to the Hotspur wound.
PLAYER TO WATCH
Beth England
Spurs Women signed Beth England from Chelsea in January, and has been in some form for the neighbours. She has found the back of the net four times in her first five games. Beth is always a threat on the offensive line over the years and she has always been a menace, expecting nothing different from her today.
Stina Blackstenius
Many were quick to point out that the Swede isn’t been used to the best of his abilities by Jonas when Arsenal women weren’t having the best of times. But Stina has again started to move between the defensive lines, and she has started making an impact once again.
TEAM NEWS
Gio returns back into squad, as she is not registered in the Champions League squad for Arsenal women. The 36-year-old new arrival Jodie Taylor should make the squad as well. Steph Catley will continue to serve sidelines with foot injury.
Arsenal should play a rotated side, with a keen eye on the midweek fixture against Bayern Munich.
PREDICTED XI
Arsenal women starting lineup vs Tottenham:
Manuela Zinsberger, Laura Wienroither, Lotte Wubben-Moy, Rafaelle Souza, Noelle Maritz, Kim Little, Leah Williamson, Katie McCabe, Victoria Pelova, Kathrine Møller Kühl, Stina Blackstinus
