Arsenal women don announce say Beth Mead, Victoria Pelova and Laia Codina go leave club at end of season, and dem all start for tonight match against Everton for Emirates Stadium. Dis one na final home game for di trio for red and white.
Renee Slegers make three changes from di side wey win 3-0 against Aston Villa on Saturday. Mead come back for Smilla Holmberg for right wing, Pelova replace Kim Little for midfield, and Katie McCabe return to left-back ahead of Taylor Hinds. Di rest of defence remain same, with Anneke Borbe, Emily Fox, Lotte Wubben-Moy and Codina keep dem positions.
Mariona Caldentey, Frida Maanum, Olivia Smith and Alessia Russo also start, with Russo wear captain armband tonight. Leah Williamson dey fit enough to make bench.
Everton side, Scott Phelan make five changes after last month 4-1 home defeat to Chelsea. Ruby Mace return from suspension, while Honoka Hayashi, Katja Snoeijs, Zara Kramzar and Hikaru Kitagawa all come back into side.
Everton XI: Brosnan, Blundell, Fernandez, Mace, Pacheco, Hayashi, Wheeler, Payne, Kitagawa, Kramzar, Snoeijs. Subs: Ramsey, Gago, Lawley, Vignola, Galli, Stenevik, Momiki.
Arsenal still dey hope to finish second for WSL table, as dem dey look to jump Chelsea and move behind champions Manchester City. Kick-off na 7pm BST.
Rachel Corsie, former Scotland captain, talk for Sky Sports say Scott Phelan don bring ironing out basics and remind players to do simple things well, make dem resilient and hard to break down. Den dem get quality for final third, players with charisma wey go create things.
Ellen White, former England striker, talk about Beth Mead departure: ‘She blow us away with her talent for Sunderland, but for her to evolve from number nine into world class winger and still seamlessly go back into that role na impressive. She don go on incredible journey for Arsenal. E feel like she be Arsenal through and through even though she from Northeast.’
Renee Slegers talk about Mead: ‘I no be part of her whole journey for Arsenal, I lucky to be part of am for last couple years. She be amazing character, she get something special on and off pitch. She always bring energy to team. She bring lightness to room when e dey needed. She bring honesty when e dey needed. E be privilege to work with Beth.’
Jen Beattie, former Scotland defender, add: ‘She just be DNA of club. She well liked, one of best humans I don play with, and still one of my best mates for football. Di level of player she be and wetin she don achieve, winning double Euros with England, winning Champions League with Arsenal, she don well and truly etch herself into legend status. To see player like dat leave wey no near past her prime na di hardest thing. She still get so much to give. And to dey linked to rival? Every fan devastated by dat.’
Ellen White also talk about wetin next for Mead: ‘She still get years to dey impact games. Her experience, leadership, intelligence for pitch, her goalscoring ability, weight of pass, delivery – she get all dose things. Dat na why she still one of di best. She don dey linked to Man City and dat go add so much quality to dat squad, for right or left hand side.’
Arsenal boss Slegers for her pre-match news conference about remaining at Emirates Stadium next season: ‘We love playing at Emirates. Next year there go be two more teams for league so there go be 13 games at Emirates next year, which great. We look forward to am, we look forward to finish season at Emirates strong together with fans. I dey very proud and privileged to be part of club wey dey push forward so much for women football.’
Everton Scott Phelan talk for im pre-match news conference: ‘Target na to finish above where we finish last season (eighth). Dat might be positive di players fit take. We dey focus on how we fit play and behave. When opportunities and chances arrive, we get to take dem and arise to dem. Di fans for dis club expect style of play. We go always try to be team wey get quality for di way we play.’
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