Everton Ladies FC
V
Arsenal
KO 14:00
Sun 29 October 2017
Select Security Stadium
After kicking their heels for weeks on end as international assignments take precedence, Everton and Arsenal return to FA Women’s Super League action at long last this weekend.
The Toffees, newly promoted to FA WSL 1 this season, and the Gunners will meet at the Select Security Stadium in Widnes for their first top-flight meeting for almost three years on Sunday, with both sides keen to claim a vital three points.
The visitors will also begin life following the departure of manager Pedro Martinez Losa on Wednesday, with assistant coach Ismael Garcia placed in temporary charge.
FORM GUIDE
After ascending from FA WSL 2, Everton have suffered three defeats in a row in the league so far, losing to near neighbours Liverpool on the opening day of the season before being edged out by last season’s SSE FA Women’s Cup finalists Birmingham City and Manchester City.
However, Andy Spence’s side did bounce back with a 3-0 success against Doncaster Rovers Belles in the FA WSL Continental Tyres Cup in their last outing on October 12.
Meanwhile, Arsenal, who began 2017-18 by beating Birmingham 3-2, were then humbled by Manchester City before being held to a 1-1 draw by Bristol City in their last league fixture.
The Gunners were in ominous form in the Continental Tyres Cup earlier this month though – they defeated London Bees 7-0.
PREVIOUS MEETINGS
Arsenal triumphed 3-1 when these two teams last met in the FA WSL 1 in October 2014.
In the final game of the 2014 season, the Gunners’ Jordan Nobbs hit a brace while Danielle Carter was also on target at Boreham Wood, with Nikita Parris – another England international – scoring an 11th-minute opener for Everton that proved little more than a consolation.
ONE TO WATCH – Marthe Munsterman (Everton)
Netherlands international Marthe Munsterman, who was part of her country’s squad for their recent Women’s World Cup qualifiers, will be looking to push on after opening her account in an Everton shirt last time out.
The 24-year-old midfielder, who joined the Toffees from FC Twente in the summer, was on target in the Toffees’ cup triumph over Doncaster after entering the fray as a substitute.
WHAT THEY SAID
Everton defender Gabby George said: “We’ve had a couple more weeks to prepare for this game than we normally would have but I think it’ll do us good because we’ve had more time to focus on what we need to do better from the previous games against Birmingham and City.
“We were doing well against City and in the second half against Birmingham but we weren’t getting results, so it was nice to get one against Doncaster.
“Hopefully we can start to get things that we should have done previously and get a result against Arsenal.
“We go into every game wanting to get a result and we’ll go into this game with the same mentality.
“We would have wanted more points on the board at this time but we’ve been working hard. Every week is a new challenge for us because we’re new to the league, so we’re going to have to keep taking every game as it comes.”
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