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

The hosts are currently sitting top of the table alongside Manchester City, while the Gunners are three points adrift in third position.

Match preview

Chelsea will head into the weekend in high spirits after they bounced back from a narrow defeat against Man City to record three consecutive away victories across all competitions.

The Blues began that impressive run of form with a 4-0 win over Leicester City, before they edged out the Citizens in the League Cup semi-finals to avenge last month's WSL defeat.

Emma Hayes's side enjoyed more cup success last weekend, with Catarina Macario scoring the winner against Everton to set up an FA Cup semi-final clash with Manchester United.

With Chelsea still in the hunt for an historic quadruple, they will now turn their attention to Friday's crucial league game, where they will be looking to record their eighth home win of the WSL season.

The top-flight's highest scorers will be looking to showcase their firepower, having racked up 44 goals across their 15 league matches.

Like their hosts, Arsenal are also enjoying a winning run, having put together four consecutive victories since losing to Manchester City in the FA Cup quarter-finals.

The Gunners began their fine run of form with a commanding 4-0 victory over London City Lionesses in the League Cup, before they went on to record back-to-back league wins against Man United and local rivals Tottenham Hotspur.

Stina Blackstenius then played a starring role in Arsenal's League Cup meeting with Aston Villa, netting a hat-trick to help her side claim a 4-0 win and set up a final clash against Chelsea later this month.

Arsenal's current focus will be on Friday's all-important league fixture, where they will attempt to claim a win that would move them level on 37 points with Chelsea.

The Gunners can draw inspiration from the fact they thrashed Chelsea 4-1 in the reverse fixture thanks to an Alessia Russo brace as well as efforts from Beth Mead and Amanda Ilestedt.

Chelsea Women Women's Super League form:

W

W

W

W

L

W

Chelsea Women form (all competitions):

Arsenal Women Women's Super League form:

L

W

W

L

W

W

Arsenal Women form (all competitions):

Team News

The Blues are unable to call upon Sam Kerr, Mia Fishel and Aniek Nouwen, with the trio all sidelined with anterior cruciate ligament injuries.

Chelsea are also expected to be without the defensive duo of Maren Mjelde and Millie Bright due to their respective injury issues.

Nathalie Bjorn is another fitness concern after the defender was forced off in the first half of the FA Cup win against her former club Everton.

As for the visitors, they will go into Friday's crucial fixture without Vivianne Miedema, Lina Hurtig, Laura Wienroither and Teyah Goldie.

Swedish defender Ilestedt is unavailable for selection after she revealed that she is expecting her first child.

Victoria Pelova and Caitlin Foord are likely to return to Jonas Eidevall's starting lineup after the pair dropped down to the bench for the League Cup win over Aston Villa.

Chelsea Women possible starting lineup:

Musovic; Perisset, Buchanan, Carter, Charles; Leupolz, Cuthbert; James, Kirby, Reiten; Ramirez

Arsenal Women possible starting lineup:

Zinsberger; McCabe, Williamson, Wubben-Moy, Catley; Pelova, Walti; Mead, Blackstenius, Foord; Russo

We say: Chelsea Women 1-1 Arsenal Women

Previews by email