Preview: Arsenal Women vs. Brighton & Hove Albion Women – prediction, team news, lineups

Brighton & Hove Albion Women will look to extend their unbeaten run to six competitive matches when they travel to the Emirates Stadium for Friday’s Women’s Super League meeting with Arsenal Women.

The Gunners will try to make it four games without defeat, having won two and drawn one of their last three games in all competitions.

Match preview

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Renee Slegers is in interim charge after stepping up from her role as assistant coach following last month’s sacking of Jonas Eidevall.

Slegers has made an unbeaten start to her tenure, having seen her side win two and draw one of her first three matches as caretaker boss.

The Gunners cruised to a 4-1 victory in their Women’s Champions League clash with Valerenga, before they claimed a 2-0 league win over West Ham United.

Slegers would have been frustrated with Sunday’s 1-1 draw against Manchester United after Alessia Russo saw her 63rd-minute opener cancelled out by Melvine Malard‘s late header.

Having struggled for consistency this season, the Gunners are currently sitting in fifth place and seven points adrift of leaders Manchester City, leaving their title hopes hanging by a thread after just six rounds of matches.

Arsenal will head into Friday’s contest with hopes of claiming their first home league win of the season after failing to win any of their opening three home matches in the WSL (D2, L1).

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Brighton boss Dario Vidosic has made an impressive start to life as Brighton manager, having won three, drawn one and lost one of their five WSL matches.

The Seagulls began their league campaign with a defeat to Manchester City, before they recorded back-to-back wins over Aston Villa and Crystal Palace.

After taking a point off Manchester United, Brighton went on to continue their strong start to the season with a narrow win over Leicester City last weekend.

Nikita Parris scored the decisive goal against the Foxes to lead the Seagulls to their third WSL victory of the season, leaving them in third spot and just two points above fourth-placed Arsenal.

Their success this season has been built on the foundations of a strong backline which has conceded just four goals in six league matches, ensuring they will head into Friday’s fixture with the joint third-best defensive record in the division.

The visitors will hope their sturdy backline can help them collect their first-ever positive result against Arsenal in the WSL after losing their previous 12 meetings in the competiton.

Arsenal Women Women’s Super League form:

Arsenal Women form (all competitions):

Brighton & Hove Albion Women Women’s Super League form:

Brighton & Hove Albion Women form (all competitions):

Team News

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Arsenal will be without the injured duo of Laura Wienroither and Victoria Pelova, while Amanda Ilestedt is currently on maternity leave.

Defender Lotte Wubben-Moy remains a doubt after missing Arsenal’s last three matches due to the concussion protocol.

Beth Mead came off the bench to feature as a half-time substitute against Man United, and she is now in contention to start Friday’s WSL fixture.

As for the visitors, they are unable to call upon Pauline Bremer after she sustained an injury in last month’s draw with Man United.

Midfielder Jelena Cankovic will have to be assessed, having been forced to sit out the last two matches due to a hamstring injury.

Parris will look to continue her fine form against her former club after scoring three goals in the previous four WSL matches.

Arsenal Women possible starting lineup:
Van Domselaar; Fox, Williamson, Catley, McCabe; Walti, Little; Mead, Foord, Caldentey; Russo

Brighton & Hove Albion Women possible starting lineup:
Baggaley; McLauchlan, Bergsvand, Carabali; Kirby, Losada, Olislagers, Pattinson; Haley, Vilamala; Parris

We say: Arsenal Women 1-1 Brighton & Hove Albion Women

Brighton have never taken a point off Arsenal in the WSL, but with the Seagulls proving to be a tough team to beat, we think they will change that statistic by holding the Gunners to a draw in Friday’s away clash, especially as the hosts have struggled to find consistency this season.

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