Arsenal won their final pre-season friendly 3-0 away to Southampton at St Mary’s Stadium.

It was the final rehearsal game before the Champions League qualifying round starts on Wednesday at Meadow Park against Rangers.

Jonas Eidevall used all his players available on the day, making nine changes at half-time to prevent overloading four days before the first game.

Having a proper pre-season this year has allowed the team to grow and get the right preparation for the UEFA Women’s Champions League, as getting to the Group Stage is a must for an ambitious team like Arsenal.

Here is how they lined up:
Zinsberger (Williams, 73), Fox (Wienroither, 46), Williamson (Codina, 46), Reid (Junaid, 87), McCabe (Harbert, 46), Cooney-Cross (Wälti, 46), Little (Kühl, 46), Maanum (Kafaji, 46), Foord (Lia, 46), Russo (Blackstenius, 46 (Godfrey, 66)), Mariona (Agyemang, 46).

Note that the Blackstenius substitution was pre-planned, and her return to fitness from injury explains why she only played 20 minutes.

Looking at the pre-season minutes as a whole, as well as how the team shaped up and took care of the players coming back from the Olympics, this is the starting XI that could play against Rangers:

Zinsberger; Fox, Williamson, Wubben-Moy or Catley or Reid, McCabe; Little, Cooney-Cross or Kühl or Wälti; Mead or Foord, Kafaji or Maanum, Caldentey; Russo.

The main question mark is about the injured Catley, Wubben-Moy, and Mead, because two of those three would be starters.

Should both Catley and Wubben-Moy be out, I would expect Reid to start ahead of Codina considering the current form of the young centre-back.

The Arsenal manager gave an interesting answer when asked by the Gooner about her: “The plan is for her to be here in the squad and to get playing time, she is good enough.”

To me, it is a clear endorsement that Katie Reid is competing to be the third centre-back at the club behind Leah Williamson and Lotte Wubben-Moy and that Laia Codina and Steph Catley are also in the mix.

In attack, I would expect the two new recruits Caldentey and Kafaji to start against Rangers, because Arsenal will need their creativity against a likely defensive team. Unless Eidevall goes for the tried and tested with Maanum behind Russo. Maanum is very good in a high press, hunting defenders and goalkeepers in the 4-4-2 system.

Rangers won 10-0 at the weekend in the league. They are coached by the former Arsenal, Charlton, and Birmingham player Josanne Potter.

They are certainly beatable by a well-drilled and prepared Arsenal team, while the final against Atlético de Madrid or Rosenborg would need to see the team raise their level even more.