Arsenal vs. West Ham at Meadow Park may be a classic, with both teams desperate for points for very different reasons.
In the upcoming Women’s Super League match, Arsenal, currently in the 2nd position, will host West Ham United, positioned 11th. The two teams are pursuing points for distinct reasons in their respective campaigns.
Arsenal enters the contest following a commanding 3-0 triumph over Brighton and Hove Albion in the previous weekend. Stina Blackstenius secured the lead for Arsenal in the 12th minute, capitalizing on defensive vulnerabilities in Brighton, allowing her to successfully convert the opportunity.
However, Jonas Eidevall’s squad had to wait until the final ten minutes to secure the victory, with goals from Caitlin Foord and Frida Maanum sealing the deal for the team.
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On the other side, West Ham experienced heartbreak in a thrilling 3-2 encounter against Aston Villa at the Chigwell Construction Stadium last weekend. Rehanne Skinner’s team took the lead with a Viviane Asseyi penalty but faced a setback when Anna Patten scored her first goal for Villa.
Despite Adriana Leon giving The Villans the lead in the second half, Lisa Evans appeared to salvage a point for The Irons with a goal ten minutes before the match concluded. Nevertheless, the hosts’ hopes were shattered as Rachel Daly executed a spectacular volley into the top left corner late in the game, securing a significant win for Villa and extending their lead by two points, moving clear of the relegation zone.
Team Update:
Arsenal
Arsenal manager Jonas Eidevall made strategic changes to his squad in the recent Conti Cup encounter against Southampton, introducing players like Laia Codina and Katherine Kuhl, aiming to make an impact and potentially secure spots in the lineup against West Ham.
Despite these adjustments, Arsenal still grapples with significant long-term absentees. Leah Williamson, Laura Weinrother, and Teyah Goldie continue their recovery from ACL injuries.
In the previous match against Brighton, Kim Little, Vivianne Miedema, Jen Beattie, and Sabrina D’Angelo were not part of the match day squad. However, all of them, except Scottish international Little, returned for the Conti Cup clash with Southampton.
West Ham United:
Despite a 3-1 loss to Brighton in the Conti Cup on Wednesday evening, Rehanne Skinner used the game to offer minutes to players who hadn’t seen much action for the squad so far this season.
Jessie Stapleton, an 18-year-old Irish international, made her West Ham United debut in the cup match, lasting an hour, while Jess Ziu got another thirty minutes in as she ramped up her recovery.
Lineups expected:
Arsenal:
Maritz, Ilestedt, Wubben-Moy, McCabe, Cooney-Cross, Little, Pelova, Foord, Mead, Russo, Zinsberger (GK). (4-2-3-1).
West Ham United:
Shimizu, Cooke, Tysiak, Cissoko, Smith, Harries, Leigh-Stringer, Fillis, Ueki, Asseyi, Arnold (GK). (5-3-2).
Key Players:
Arsenal – Victoria Pelova
Among the notable names gracing Arsenal’s squad this season, one player has truly captured the attention of both the club and its fans—24-year-old Dutch international Victoria Pelova. Her standout performances have been a revelation for the team.
While her contribution to the 3-0 victory over Brighton was commendable, it was her exceptional display in the 6-2 triumph against Leicester that garnered widespread admiration. Pelova’s pivotal role, scoring the fourth goal and assisting in the turnaround from 2-0 down to 3-2 up in just ten minutes, left spectators in awe.
This season, she boasts one goal against Leicester and three assists, including a crucial one in the memorable 2-1 win over Aston Villa, where her impact coming off the bench earned high praise. With a remarkable 77% pass accuracy rate, Pelova has seized the opportunity to shine, positioning herself as a key asset for Jonas Eidevall’s squad throughout the campaign.
West Ham United – Viviane Asseyi
Viviane Asseyi, 30, is a French international who has played in all nine of West Ham’s games this season, seven in the league and two in the Conti Cup.
Irons fans will be hopeful that the striker will be able to kick start her season after scoring in successive home defeats to Bristol City and last weekend against Aston Villa.
Despite being on the losing side, her goal and assist in last weekend’s defeat to Aston Villa earned her a spot in the Team of the Week, and for a striker who actually averages 1.6 shots per game, she will have to be at her lethal best to help West Ham take anything from Arsenal.
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