Arsenal will play a must win game against Everton in the FA WSL after a surprise Birmingham City win against Manchester City has handed the Gunners a lifeline in the Champions League race.
The Gunners dropped to fourth place following Liverpool’s win over Sunderland, but the big news this week is City, who were previously unbeaten in their last 22 games, lost at Birmingham.
It is actually only a half surprise as Birmingham took City to extra time on Sunday before being defeated.
They are a side that knows how to disrupt City’s attacking football like no other FA WSL side can do, including Arsenal and Chelsea.
The Gunners must beat Everton to close the gap to five points with City.
Chelsea, having won 2-0 away to Yeovil, are now top of the league, nine points ahead of the Arsenal Women.
That lifeline offered by Birmingham City cannot be wasted, as history shows the league winners only lose between zero and two games in the whole season.
Should Arsenal beat Everton, there will be further opportunities to make up ground on the top two teams, as they will meet up in a potential title decider on Saturday’s lunchtime kick-off just before the international break.
It is important to note that the following league game for the Gunners after the Everton encounter will be played on 25 March. Over a month away from now. This is due to the international break, then Conti Cup and FA Women’s Cup ties.
Opposition
Everton are currently sitting in 8th place in the league and will feature a good number of former Gunners. Chloe Kelly and Taylor Hinds moved away in January, while Angharad James came through the Arsenal Academy.
They have a good number of talented young English players complemented by foreigners.
Although results have not gone always their way, their recent away game at Chelsea showed some potential and Arsenal should be weary of their quality attacking players.
They have shown some slight weaknesses in the defensive area having conceded 14 goals in nine games.
With Joe Montemurro’s attacking style, there should be some chances created and the forwards will have to be more clinical than against Millwall.