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

With two games left to play in the season, the Blues have a two-point lead over Manchester United at the top of the WSL table, while Arsenal are sitting in third position.

Match preview

After beating Man United at Wembley to lift the FA Cup last weekend, Chelsea quickly turned their attention back to league action for Wednesday's away meeting with West Ham United.

Niamh Charles scored her fourth league goal of the season to give the Blues a narrow halftime lead, before the defending WSL champions moved through the gears in the second period.

Pernille Harder, Sophie Ingle and Erin Cuthbert all got on the scoresheet to wrap up a commanding 4-0 win, which moved Chelsea to the top of the WSL table.

The Blues could win a fourth consecutive WSL title this weekend if they beat Arsenal and Manchester United fail to beat their local rivals Manchester City.

Although Chelsea have won their last 14 home league games, the last time that the Blues dropped points in a home WSL match was in a goalless draw against Arsenal in February 2022.

Arsenal head into the weekend five points adrift of Chelsea, while three points separate them from second-placed Man United.

As a result, Arsenal are unlikely to clinch their first league title since 2018-19, but in a season that has been disrupted by injuries to key players, their main priority will be to secure Champions League football for next term.

The Gunners moved three points clear of fourth-placed Manchester City with a comfortable 4-1 away victory over Everton in midweek.

Goals from Katie McCabe and Lotte Wubben-Moy combined with a Caitlin Foord brace guided the Gunners to a third consecutive victory.

Jonas Eidevall's side will qualify for the Champions League this weekend if they beat Chelsea and Man City fail to win in the Manchester derby, while a point will be enough if the Citizens lose to Man United.

Chelsea Women Women's Super League form:

L

W

W

W

W

W

Chelsea Women form (all competitions):

D

W

W

W

W

W

Arsenal Women Women's Super League form:

W

W

L

W

W

W

Arsenal Women form (all competitions):

L

D

L

W

W

W

Team News

Chelsea boss Emma Hayes has the majority of her squad to choose from, although she remains without the services of Millie Bright and Fran Kirby.

Sunday's contest will be the final home game for both Magdalena Eriksson and Harder after they announced that they will be leaving the club at the end of the season, and the pair are expected to start against the Gunners.

After dropping to the bench in midweek, Ann-Katrin Berger, Maren Mjelde, Guro Reiten and Cuthbert could all return to the starting lineup on Sunday.

As for the visitors, they are unable to call upon Leah Williamson, Laura Wienroither, Beth Mead, Vivianne Miedema and Kim Little.

Eidevall confirmed at his pre-match press conference that Lia Walti will miss the rest of the season after she sustained an injury in Wednesday's away victory over Everton.

Steph Catley featured as a late substitute against the Toffees, and she could be given a place in the starting lineup for the trip to Kingsmeadow.

Chelsea Women possible starting lineup:

Berger; Carter, Buchanan, Eriksson, Charles; Cuthbert, Leupolz; Harder, Fleming, Harder; Kerr

Arsenal Women possible starting lineup:

Zinsberger; Wubben-Moy, Beattie, Rafaelle; Maritz, Maanum, McCabe, Catley; Pelova, Foord, Blackstenius

We say: Chelsea Women 2-1 Arsenal Women

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