Preview: Arsenal Women vs. Chelsea Women - prediction, team news, lineups

The visitors, who picked up 22 points this season, are currently leading the way at the top of the standings, while the Gunners are three points further back in second position.

Match preview

After picking up just one point from their opening two WSL games, Arsenal have put together a six-game winning league run to put themselves firmly in the title picture.

Impressively, Arsenal have scored 18 times in their previous six league games, including three goals in their most recent outing against West Ham United.

Frida Maanum opened the scoring in the second minute, before Beth Mead netted a brace to register her first couple of goals since returning from a serious knee injury.

With Arsenal looking to win the league for the first time since 2018-19, they could boost their title hopes by claiming a win that would move them level with Sunday's opponents.

The Gunners are hoping to beat their London rivals in a WSL game for the first time since claiming a 2-1 victory in September 2021, and they will certainly have a strong backing, having sold over 57,000 tickets for Sunday's London derby.

Chelsea are making great strides towards winning a fifth consecutive league title after winning seven and drawing one of their eight WSL matches.

Like their hosts, the Blues have been in fine goalscoring form, having racked up 25 goals in their last six league games, helping them take maximum points from each of those matches.

Impressively, the league leaders scored 10 goals across their last two WSL outings, claiming a 5-1 win over Liverpool before winning 5-2 against Leicester thanks to a Lauren James brace, an own goal as well as strikes from Sam Kerr and Aggie Beever-Jones.

With their last three competitive matches taking place on home turf, Chelsea will now make the short trip to the Emirates Stadium, where they will attempt to extend their unbeaten league run to 16 matches since losing 2-0 to Manchester City in March.

Although the Blues lost out to Arsenal in last season's League Cup final, that result represents the only time they have lost in the last seven competitive meetings (W4, D2).

Arsenal Women Women's Super League form:

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Arsenal Women form (all competitons):

Chelsea Women Women's Super League form:

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Chelsea Women form (all competitions):

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Team News

The Gunners are still unable to call upon Leah Williamson, Laura Wienroither and Teyah Goldie, with the trio working on their rehabilitation from anterior cruciate ligament injuries.

Forward Lina Hurtig is unlikely to feature after she picked up an injury issue while on international duty with Sweden.

After seeing his side sweep past West Ham before the international break, Arsenal boss Jonas Eidevall could be tempted to name an unchanged lineup.

As for Chelsea, they will be without the services of Millie Bright, Jelena Cankovic, Aniek Nouwen and Katerina Svitkova due to injury issues.

In more positive news, Emma Hayes has revealed that Melanie Leupolz and Guro Reiten have recovered from injury in time for Sunday's London derby.

Having scored five goals in Chelsea's last two league games, James will look to continue her fine form in the final third when she lines up against Arsenal at the Emirates.

Arsenal Women possible starting lineup:

Zinsberger; McCabe, Ilestedt, Wubben-Moy, Catley; Pelova, Cooney-Cross; Mead, Maanum, Foord; Russo

Chelsea Women possible starting lineup:

Berger; Perisset, Mjelde, Carter, Charles; Nusken, Cuthbert; Rytting Kaneryd, Kirby, James; Kerr

We say: Arsenal Women 2-2 Chelsea Women

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