Arsenal coach Renee Slegers don change four players for im starting eleven as di team return from international break to face Birmingham City at Emirates Stadium. Arsenal dey find dia first win in N5 this season, and dia first win for domestic action since di opening round of Women’s Super League.
Misa Rodriguez dey back for goal, e replace Anneke Borbe. Smilla Holmberg enter defence for Emily Fox. Di rest of di back four remain same as e be at Etihad Stadium before di break, with Ona Batlle for left-back and Leah Williamson join Lotte Wubben-Moy for central defence.
Di other two changes come for attack. Stina Blackstenius and Olivia Smith come in for Kim Little, wey miss out through illness, and Mariona Caldentey, wey go dey out for several weeks with hamstring injury. With Mariona and Little out, Alessia Russo join Kyra Cooney-Cross and Georgia Stanway for midfield, while Lisa Baum keep her place for wing.
Frida Maanum no dey di matchday squad because of muscle injury, while Selina Cerci absent after knee surgery during di international break.
Birmingham City, under Amy Merricks, still dey search for dia first win since dem return to di Women’s Super League. Dem get two draws and three defeats for di first block of fixtures, and dem sit 13th for table. Oceane Hurtre don score five of Birmingham City’s seven goals, wey put her joint-top for golden boot race and with more goals than Arsenal. Di France international like early goal, with three of her goals coming inside di opening 15 minutes. But Birmingham City also get di second-worst defensive record for di league. Of di 13 goals dem concede, six come for di final 20 minutes, including one 95th minute equaliser for Brighton to snatch 2-2 draw.
Arsenal don struggle in front of goal, scoring just four times in five Women’s Super League outings and seven in seven for all competitions. Lisa Baum na dia leading scorer with two goals. Former Arsenal player Victoria Pelova, wey move to Tottenham over summer, dey joint-top for scoring charts with five. Arsenal go hope say Alessia Russo and Georgia Stanway fit reproduce dia England scoring form for Arsenal shirt. Di pair share five goals for England 8-1 aggregate over Greece. Arsenal need win to banish memory of dia worst start to Women’s Super League campaign since 2014. Dem sit 10th for table, with just five points from first five matches.
