Arsenal vs Manchester United Women's Super League preview: Team news, predicted lineups, ones to watch, previous meetings and how to watch

With a game in hand Arsenal park six points behind Friday night’s opponent Manchester United in the table. To say that this game is crucial for both sides might perhaps be an understatement. While United could get into the fashionable Champions League tournament already after two seasons in the Women's Super League, the home side that has been a top-three team for years could lose out from it.

Team news

Arsenal are missing three players due to injuries - all defenders; centre-back Jennifer Beattie and fullbacks, Viki Schnaderbeck and Steph Catley.

United have Kirsty Smith and Lauren James back in training after injuries, and both are available to play against Arenal. Tobin Heath's ankle injury is still bothering the Red Devils. Alessia Russo was on her way back into the training field but have suffered a setback in recovering and will not appear in Friday's game. Yet another huge setback and loss for the Reds after Ivana Fuso suffered an ankle injury during training and will most likely be out for the rest of the season.

Predicted lineups

Arsenal:

Zinsberger (GK)
Maritz, Williamson, Wubben-Moy, McCabe
Wälti, Little
Mead, Miedema, Nobbs
Foord

Manchester United:

Earps (GK)
Thorisdottir, M. Turner, A. Turner, Batlle
Groenen, Zelem
Toone, Staniforth, James
Press

Ones to watch

Arsenal attacker Caitlin Foord has had 14 appearances in the league so far this season. In these apps she has been directly involved in 14 goals, scoring 9 herself and assisting 5. Foord scored 2 goals in the Gunners last game against Birmingham City with 4 attempted shots. She also had two shot assists. The attacker has played in different positions up front for Arsenal during the season but looking at her heat map we can see that she mostly operates on the left-hand side.

Lucy Staniforth started her first league game for United in a while last time around for the guests when they hosted Aston Villa winning 3-0. The attacking midfielder assisted to one of the goals and was successful in several actions for the Red Devils. Staniforth attempted 2 shots of her own, with 1 on target. She had 2 shot assists, attempted 1 dribble in which she was successful and won 2 out of her 3 offensive duels.

Previous meetings

This will be the first time the two sides go up against each other at Arsenal's home ground. At United's home stadium Leigh Sports Village they stole all three points earlier in the season. This is only the third encounter of both sides, each club has won one match each so far with the scoreline being 1-0 to the winning side.

Arsenal have lost four games in the league so far this season, and three of them have been against the Manchester teams. If the Red Devils can bag the three points again they'll become the second team to complete a double over the London side the current season.