Arsenal Women are looking to consolidate their place at the top of the table against a side currently third from bottom and coached by the former England manager, Hope Powell.
Arsenal are flying at the moment with a perfect record in League and Cup games -10 played, 10 wins.
Therefore, there is a clear expectation of a win on Sunday.
Predicted 11 and tactics
This is probably the easiest predicted 11 ever as we only have 10 fit outfield players at the moment.
The only question mark is over the goalkeepers and the system that will be used.
Hope Powell is known to like well-drilled and compact defensive sides, there is no doubt, that we will have a lot of possession.
Therefore, I believe Pauline Peyraud-Magnin will start in goal and a back three will be employed as Brighton are likely to deploy a 9-1 defense.
The standard 3-4-3 system is likely to be used as follows: Peyraud-Magnin; Williamson, Bloodworth, Quinn; Evans, Van De Donk, Walti, Mitchell; McCabe, Miedema, Mead
The big question is how Arsenal will cope without Kim Little and Jordan Nobbs in terms of their attacking scheme. Obviously, the pairing on the wings – Evans-Mccabe and Mitchell-Mead – should offer a lot of overlapping and crossing opportunities, or ability to get behind the Brighton defense.
Walti and Van De Donk should also direct the traffic with the Dutch player’s ability to break the lines on the ball, while the spectacular and efficient passing range of the Swiss midfielder should allow the team to stretch the Brighton’s defensive block with many diagonal balls.
Former players
We will welcome many ex-Arsenal players who were with us at youth and Senior level.
Goalkeeper Sophie Harris, who made her FA WSL debut away to Liverpool six or seven years ago when Emma Byrne was injured. Defenders Sophie Perry and Victoria Williams were at the Arsenal Academy, with Williams also known as ‘Trev’ when playing for our reserves.
In midfield, Kate Natkiel played up to the u16 level for us while the Brighton captain Danielle Buet played in the team that won the UEFA Cup (now known as the Champions League) back in 2006/07.
Title six-pointer next.
With Manchester City away coming up the following week, keep your fingers crossed for no more injuries as the bench is likely to be composed of the back-up goalie and the same three young players as against Everton: Ava Kuyken, who has just signed to play in the USA next season, Ruby Grant and Paige Bayley-Gayle.
A couple more youngsters from the side managed by Lauren Phillips could also be called up, after all, we can have up to seven players on the bench.