This weekend the WSL returns from an international break that saw the last of the European World Cup play-offs and some high-profile friendlies that saw World Cup champions the USWNT lose twice, to England and Spain. Arsenal’s season continues with a fixture away to Reading at 18:45 Sunday evening.
Unfortunately the international break also saw a spate of injuries, incuding two to Arsenal’s starting centre-backs Leah Williamson and Rafaelle Souza. Williamson has an ankle ligament injury and Souza a fractured bone in her foot, putting each out for a period of at least weeks. It’s horrible luck for a side that started strongest this season, and Arsenal’s reconfigured backline is yet to be decided. It is almost certain to feature Lotte Wubben-Moy, a young, star centre-back in her own right who progressed incredibly last season and re-signed for the club in April, but they will certainly miss Williamson and Souza’s ability to progress the ball up the pitch.
Despite Arsenal’s slightly dented defence, they have plenty of attacking talent. In particular, Steph Catley (left-back) and Caitlin Foord (left wing/central striker) have shone so far this season, both for club and for their native Australia. Their combining down the left side will provide an outlet for Arsenal’s attack that may be needed without their progressive centre-backs. Catley may also pair up at LCB with Wubben-Moy at RCB, a position Catley’s taken up occasionally in the past.
Arsenal’s opponents Reading have had a slow start to the season, something that has flagged them as a relegation possibility should that continue. They’ve lost 4-0 to Manchester United and 2-1 to Brighton, leaving them with zero points and bottom of the league table. Fortunately for them, they’ve started seasons poorly before and finished last season in a respectable eighth, clear of the relegation battle. They’ll be a team looking for their first win to build momentum going into their next games, and they have felled giants before, with a 1-0 win over Chelsea last season. However, they are also a team hit by injury – one of their stars from last season Deanne Rose came off against Manchester United with an Achilles injury and will be on the sidelines for Sunday’s game.
Last season Arsenal won both matches they played against Reading, winning 4-0 in each. As a top of the table vs bottom of the table match-up, Arsenal will be hoping this is a routine win, but an upset is certainly not beyond possibility in the WSL.
Predicted line up for Arsenal: Zinsberger, McCabe, Catley, Wubben-Moy, Maritz, Walti, Little, Miedema, Foord, Blackstenius, Mead.
The match will be available to watch on Sky Sports for those in the UK and the FA Player for those elsewhere.