Arsenal will hope to build on a positive week when they host London City Lionesses at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday, with six points currently separating the teams in the Women's Super League.
Renée Slegers' side return to league action after Thursday's 1-1 draw away to Barcelona in the Women's Champions League, a result that stretched their unbeaten run in all competitions to six games.
Frida Maanum put Arsenal ahead in the first half at the Camp Nou before Caroline Graham Hansen equalised just before the hour mark. The Gunners then had to withstand sustained pressure to earn a point against the European champions.
That result came after a much-needed 2-1 win away to Liverpool last weekend, where Alessia Russo scored both goals to give Arsenal a welcome league victory following an inconsistent start to the season.
The England striker has now scored in three successive WSL appearances and was responsible for Arsenal's previous seven goals in all competitions before Maanum struck against Barcelona.
Their record at the Emirates remains frustrating, however. Arsenal have drawn all four of their home league matches this season and sit sixth in the table with 13 points.
London City, meanwhile, travel across the capital sitting third after winning six of their first nine league fixtures, putting themselves firmly in the race for European qualification.
Eder Maestre's team bounced back from a 2-1 loss to Manchester City with a convincing 4-1 victory against Birmingham City last weekend.
Poppy Pattinson, Delphine Cascarino, Grace Geyoro and Kadidiatou Diani were all on target, showing the range of attacking options available to the newly promoted club.
With London City aiming to strengthen their position in the top three and Arsenal desperate to close the gap, Sunday's meeting could prove important in both sides' pursuit of European football.
Team News
Arsenal
Arsenal have another short turnaround to contend with after their demanding Champions League trip to Barcelona, giving Slegers little time to prepare her players for Sunday's game.
Maanum returned to the starting eleven at the Camp Nou and made her presence felt with the opening goal. Kim Little, Georgia Stanway and Caitlin Foord were also named in the starting lineup.
Olivia Smith, Ona Batlle and Kyra Cooney-Cross all came on during the second half, offering Slegers several options if she chooses to freshen up her team following a physically demanding week.
Slegers has spoken about having to find creative ways to prepare tactically when matches come so quickly, having already faced a similar turnaround between the Liverpool and Barcelona games.
London City Lionesses
London City arrive at the Emirates in confident mood after their emphatic win over Birmingham, with Maestre able to call upon several players who bring considerable experience at international level.
Mary Earps, Mapi León, Alexia Putellas, Cascarino and Geyoro all started that game, while Diani came off the bench to add a fourth goal in stoppage time.
Defender Isa Kardinaal has been recovering from the ankle ligament injury she suffered in October, and it remains unclear whether she will be available for Sunday's fixture.
Slegers has already warned that London City's pace going forward could cause Arsenal problems, even if the visitors present a different challenge to Barcelona.
Speaking before the match, the Arsenal head coach described London City as "lethal with their fast attacks and counter attacks", highlighting the need for her players to remain organised defensively while trying to take control of proceedings.
Likely Lineups
Arsenal
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Misa Rodríguez; Emily Fox, Leah Williamson, Steph Catley, Taylor Hinds; Kim Little, Georgia Stanway; Caitlin Foord, Frida Maanum, Olivia Smith; Alessia Russo.
London City Lionesses
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Mary Earps; Jana Fernández, María Pérez, Mapi León, Poppy Pattinson; Grace Geyoro, Daniela Arques; Delphine Cascarino, Alexia Putellas, Daniëlle van de Donk; Nicole Anyomi.
Key Players
Alessia Russo: Arsenal
Arsenal's difficulties in front of goal have made Russo's contribution even more important, and the England international has delivered when her team have needed her most.
Her two goals against Liverpool extended her scoring run to three consecutive WSL appearances, giving Slegers a dependable option in attack during a period when Arsenal have struggled to find consistent results.
Russo missed a promising chance in the second half against Barcelona, but her movement and ability to bring others into the game remained valuable whenever Arsenal managed to break forward.
Sunday should offer a different sort of test. Arsenal are likely to see more of the ball against a London City team that can defend in numbers before launching quick attacks.
Russo's positioning in the box and her ability to combine with those around her could make the difference as Arsenal attempt to turn their recent progress into a first home league win this season.
Delphine Cascarino: London City Lionesses
London City's ability to break forward quickly has been a major feature of their impressive start, and Cascarino is one of the players best equipped to make those moments count.
The France international found the net against Birmingham last weekend, once again showing the threat she carries when attacking from wide positions.
Her pace and willingness to take defenders on could be particularly useful against Arsenal, who are expected to push more players forward than they did during Thursday's match against Barcelona.
Slegers has already pointed to London City's danger on the counterattack, making it clear that Arsenal must be careful about the space they leave behind when committing players forward.
If the hosts dominate possession as expected, Cascarino could become an important outlet for the visitors, with her ability to turn a defensive recovery into a dangerous attack offering London City a genuine route to goal.
Match Details
Where is the game being played?
The fixture takes place at the Emirates Stadium in north London, where Arsenal will be hoping to secure their first home league victory of the campaign.
What time is kick-off?
Arsenal host London City Lionesses on Sunday 15 November 2026, with kick-off scheduled for 16:30 GMT.
How can I watch?
The game will be shown live in the United Kingdom on Sky Sports. Eligible subscribers can also watch through Sky Go and NOW.
