Arsenal have a crucial home game against City this weekend, sitting three points behind their unbeaten and unbreached opponents.

It will be a tough game and the Gunners will need to perform well following their disappointing second-half performance at Chelsea last weekend that saw them surrender a 1-0 lead to suffer their first defeat of the season.

For this must-win game, Joe Montemurro will have most of his squad available.

Long term absentees, Danielle Carter and Tabea Kemme are not available, as well as Viktoria Schnaderbeck who suffered an injury on international duty.

There is also a question mark over Leonie Maier, who was injured before the international break, but took part in the pre-game warm-up against Charlton.

All the other players should be available and those who where short of playing time got minutes in the Conti Cup tie.

Therefore, the starting 11 should be close to this: Zinsberger in goal, although Peyraud-Magnin has played well since her return from injury. It is hard to predict the goalkeeper situation.

In defence, no surprises in the back four unless Maier is fit. Therefore it should be Evans, Williamson, Beattie and McCabe.

In the middle, the main trio should get the nod: Waelti, Little and Nobbs.

In attack Danielle van de Donk, who is in terrific form, Miedema and Mead, who is also in superb form, should start.

The available players on the bench should be: Peyraud-Magnin, Maier, Quinn, Mitchell, Veje, Roord and maybe Filis or Grant.

Manchester City have their own injury and suspension problems.

They lost their talented centre-back (who was played out of position) Aoife Mannion to an ACL injury and also have a key player suspended in Keira Walsh.

The defensive midfielder/playmaker received a three-game ban for serious foul play after going studs up on Manchester United’s Hanson.

There is no doubt it was the correct call on the day, but referees are inconsistent in the FA WSL for those fouls and some players get away with a yellow card, sometimes nothing for similar serious foul play cases.

With Georgia Stanway and Ellen White coming back to full fitness, these are two game changers that City should start if they aim to win the game. You would expect Megan Campbell to deputise for Aoife Mannion at right-back.

I believe the key to the game will be the 3v3 midfield battle between Waelti, Little and Nobbs against Scott, Weir and Stanway as well as the 2v2 on each wing in Campbell / Wullaert v Evans / Van De Donk and Stokes /Hemp against McCabe/Mead.

Both sides are expected to deploy their usual gameplan, play football from the back and build up play through the thirds. City will have to do without Walsh, but with such a strong midfield three it should not be a problem, unless Arsenal manage to press them quite high and force some turnovers.

The Guardian suggest that City are favorite to win and looking good to extend their lead to six points over the Gunners. You can only agree with them when you look at the table and recent league form, but I am sure the home team will battle hard will give them a tough game nevertheless.

The match will kick-off on Sunday at 2.30 pm live on BT Sport.