Second place will be up for grabs when Arsenal Women face Manchester United Women in Saturday’s final day clash at the Emirates Stadium.
The Gunners are sitting in second place with 45 points to their name, while Man United are just one point behind in third spot in the Women’s Super League table.
Match preview
Arsenal have experienced a couple of disappointing results since they booked their place in the Women’s Champions League final with a 5-3 aggregate win over Lyon.
They slumped to a 5-2 away defeat in their meeting with Aston Villa at the end of April, before they conceded four more goals in Monday’s loss against Brighton & Hove Albion at Broadfield Stadium.
Caitlin Foord netted a 29th-minute equaliser to cancel out Fran Kirby‘s early opener, but the Seagulls went on to score three more goals to take the game away from the Gunners, ensuring Mariona Caldentey‘s late effort counted for very little in a 4-2 defeat.
After losing back-to-back away matches, Renee Slegers‘s side will be looking forward to returning to home surroundings, especially as they have won each of their last seven home league games, scoring at least four goals in each of those victories.
The Gunners have also kept five clean sheets in their seven-game winning home run in the WSL, and they will be keen to produce a strong defensive display on Saturday as they look to build confidence ahead of the UWCL final against Barcelona on May 24.
Man United could finish in the runners-up spot for the second time in three seasons despite failing to win any of their last three matches since beating Manchester City in the Women’s FA Cup semi-finals on April 3.
The Red Devils were held to a goalless draw in their away meeting with West Ham United, before they fell to a narrow 1-0 against Chelsea in a game that sealed a sixth consecutive title for the West London club.
Marc Skinner‘s side were unable to return to winning ways in last Sunday’s Manchester derby, but the 2-2 draw may have felt like a victory after they showed great character to come back from two goals down.
Grace Clinton and Melvine Malard grabbed a goal apiece to cancel out efforts from Laia Aleixandri and Rebecca Knaak, before Man United dug deep to negotiate just over 20 minutes with 10 players following Aoife Mannion‘s dismissal, securing a top-three finish and Women’s Champions League qualification.
As it stands, the Red Devils will enter next season’s UWCL in the second qualifying round, but if they can leapfrog Arsenal with a win, they will be guaranteed a spot in the third qualifying round.
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Team News
Arsenal are likely to be without the services of Laia Codina and Lina Hurtig, with the latter one of three players set to depart the club when her contract expires this summer.
Goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar remains a doubt for Saturday’s fixture, having missed the last two matches with an ankle issue.
Manchester City loanee Chloe Kelly is pushing for a recall after coming off the bench to play over half an hour in the defeat to Brighton.
As for the visitors, they are still unable to call upon long-term absentee Evie Rabjohn, who is continuing to work her way back from a serious knee injury.
Skinner has confirmed that Jayde Riviere and Rachel Williams will miss out through injury, with the pair hoping to prove their fitness for the Women’s FA Cup final against Chelsea.
Mannion will serve a one-match suspension after being sent off for two bookable offences in the narrow win over Man City.
Arsenal Women possible starting lineup:
Zinsberger; Fox, Williamson, Catley, McCabe; Maanum, Little, Caldentey; Kelly, Foord, Russo
Manchester United Women possible starting lineup:
Tullis-Joyce; George, Le Tissier, Turner, Sandberg; Miyazawa, Clinton; Bizet, Toone, Galton; Terland
We say: Arsenal Women 3-1 Manchester United Women
Arsenal have struggled in their last two away league games, but they have proven to be a strong force in their previous seven WSL home matches, and with that in mind, we think they will make full use of home advantage to seal second spot with a victory.
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