Arsenal need a miracle to go through to the Conti Cup quarter-finals, with a huge win necessary to have a chance to finish as one of the best two runner-ups from the six groups. Therefore I would expect a strong team to be played tonight.

DARTFORD, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 04: Vivanne Miedema of Arsenal FC celebrates after scoring his team's third goal during the FA Women's Continental League Cup Group B match between London City Lionesses and Arsenal FC at Princes Park on November 04, 2020 in Dartford, England. Sporting stadiums around United Kingdom remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by James Chance/Getty Images)
DARTFORD, ENGLAND: Vivianne Miedema of Arsenal FC celebrates after scoring her team’s third goal during the FA Women’s Continental League Cup Group B match on November 04, 2020. (Photo by James Chance/Getty Images)

By my reckoning, Arsenal need to win by 7 or 8 goals to have a chance to go through as they would end up with 3 points in the runner-up ranking and a goal difference of +4 or +5.

Even this might not be enough, as I have mentioned previously, with two groups where the runner-up could finish with four points and therefore eliminate us from the competition.

In goal, I would expect some rotation with a debut for Lydia Williams or a second start from Fran Stenson.

The back four should be the same as the one that did so well against Chelsea, Leonie Maier, Leah Williamson, Lotte Wubben-Moy, Katie McCabe.

In midfield, Malin Gut could play alongside Kim Little and Jill Roord to give Lia Wälti a breather.

Up front, Danielle van de Donk could come on either wing to give Caitlin Foord a rest. Vivianne Miedema of course would start as usual as we need plenty of goals.

This is the third North London Derby this season, all played at home, and we will need to hit the ground running to blitz them. Score as early as possible and as many as possible, otherwise, it could drag on like the first game this season that stayed 0-0 until the last 20 minutes. We need a huge win to survive in the competition.

Predicted XI: Williams; Maier, Williamson, Wubben-Moy, Mccabe; Gut, Little, Roord; van de Donk, Miedema, Mead.

Substitutes: Stenson, Evans, Mace, Pearse, Garrad, Zinsberger, Schnaderbeck