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.
Predicted starting XI
The main problem is lack of numbers in defense and defensive midfield positions.
Kim Little is like a new signing and is ready to boost the attacking rank.
Due to the lack of players available for the manager, the defense should be really close to the one that started against Millwall.
In the attacking places, Little might not be ready to start and come again as a sub.
Sari Van Veenendaal; Lisa Evans, Louise Quinn, Emma Mitchell, Katie McCabe; Dominque Janssen, Danielle Van De Donk, Jordan Nobbs; Heather O’Reilly, Bethany Mead, Danielle Carter
Potential substitutes: Anna Moorhouse, Alex Scott, Lauren James, Ava Kuyken, Kim Little.
If possible, youngsters like Shannon Cooke or Miri Taylor would be a good addition on the bench to make it up to the regular seven substitutes.