The FA WSL is back for Arsenal after a week off due to a Covid-19 positive tests and multiple players needing to isolate.

BOREHAMWOOD, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 06: Jordan Nobbs of Arsenal bumps fist with Hannah Hampton of Birmingham City after the Barclays FA Women's Super League match between Arsenal Women and Birmingham City Women at Meadow Park on December 06, 2020 in Borehamwood, England. A limited number of spectators (900) will be in attendance as Covid-19 pandemic restrictions are eased in Tier 2 areas. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
BOREHAMWOOD, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 06: Jordan Nobbs of Arsenal bumps fist with Hannah Hampton of Birmingham City after the Barclays FA Women’s Super League match between Arsenal Women and Birmingham City Women at Meadow Park on December 06, 2020 in Borehamwood, England. A limited number of spectators (900) will be in attendance as Covid-19 pandemic restrictions are eased in Tier 2 areas. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

The big question is how fit the Arsenal players will be after the Christmas break and that extra week with less training than was needed.

Reading will be sharper than Arsenal as they had a game last Sunday against Chelsea that was not successful at all. They will also be looking for revenge following the home game this season that ended up as a 6-1 win and a Jill Roord hat-trick.

Guessing the starting XI is difficult as we do not know which players did not train, i.e. which one got Covid. It is covered by medical privacy and, besides Katie McCabe went to Dubai. We know that Steph Catley and Viki Schnaderbeck are not available.

Basically, Joe Montemurro has 21 players to chose from including three goalkeepers. Most positions are open for competition which is great for the manager.

This is the XI I am expecting to see: Williams or Zinsberger; Evans or Maritz, Williamson or Wubben-Moy or Patten, Beattie, McCabe; Wälti or Gut, Little, Nobbs or Roord or van de Donk; Mead, Miedema, Foord.

Stenson, Mace and Maier should be on the bench. But the starting XI is more than likely be decided by the players fitness levels and we could see some surprises.

Arsenal need a win to keep up with the top two teams who play each other on Sunday with the hope that they draw.