Matchday two in the Continental Cup group stage and it’s already a must win game for the Gunners following the defeat at Chelsea.

GRONINGEN, NETHERLANDS - OCTOBER 23: Danielle van de Donk of the Netherlands in action during the UEFA Women's EURO 2022 qualifier match between Netherlands Women's and Estonia Womens's at Hitachi Capital Mobility Stadion on October 23, 2020 in Groningen, Netherlands. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)
GRONINGEN, NETHERLANDS – OCTOBER 23: Danielle van de Donk of the Netherlands in action during the UEFA Women’s EURO 2022 qualifier match between Netherlands Women’s and Estonia Womens’s at Hitachi Capital Mobility Stadion on October 23, 2020 in Groningen, Netherlands. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)

At the same time, there are two huge games coming in the League with Manchester United away and Chelsea at home.

Therefore, you would expect Joe Montemurro to mix up the team in preparation for the two big games and ease up the return of the players who have been out with injuries for a while. With the five substitutions rule in place, it means 16 players can get playing time on Wednesday.

It would make sense to give Lydia Williams her debut against a Championship side in goal. In defence, Leonie Maier if fit (she’s back in training) should get a game alongside Viktoria Schnaderbeck with Lotte Wubben-Moy needing also a start.

At left-back Noelle Maritz injury recovery time has not been disclosed so you would expect Katie McCabe to get another game. The other option would be to play with a back three of Wubben-Moy, Williamson and Schnaderbeck.

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In midfield, should Kim Little be fit (she’s back in training), you would expect her to start and get at least 45 minutes alongside Malin Gut. The third midfielder would be either Danielle van de Donk or Lia Wälti.

Up front, it will depend if Joe Montemurro wants to rest Vivianne Miedema or not. If she gets a breather, we could have a combination of Mead, Foord and McCabe.

It is kind of hard to guess who is fit to play and youngsters Ruby Mace and Anouk Denton will be involved in the squad as well.

It might even be the right time to give Mace he first start as a right wing-back and playing a Championship side is the perfect opportunity to do so and see the 17 years old from the start. That’s why I think we will see a 3-4-3 on the night:

Williams; Wubben-Moy, Williamson, Schnaderbeck; Mace, Gut, Little, Van De Donk; Mead, Foord, McCabe and the subs Zinsberger, Beattie, Maier, Miedema, Wälti, Denton.

Unavailable through injury: Noelle Maritz, Steph Catley, LLisa Evans, Jordan Nobbs.

Training with the squad but doubtful: Kim Little, Jill Roord, Fran Senson, Leonie Maier.

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