Preview: Manchester United v Arsenal Women

Our squad are back from the international break with a point to prove and a new challenge to face: an away fixture to Manchester United.

The Red Devils are currently third in the Barclays Women's Super League table and have yet to record a defeat this season.

LAST TIME OUT

We were unbeaten, home and away, against Marc Skinner's side last season.

A Cloe Lacasse screamer rescued a point for our Gunners at the Leigh Sports Village in October 2023, before we ran out 3-1 winners at a sold-out Emirates Stadium in the return fixture.

FACTS AND STATS

Arsenal celebrate Mariona Caldentey's penalty against West Ham

Manchester United have only lost one of their last four home games against us in the league. That win came in 2021, courtesy of goals from Katie McCabe and Vivianne Miedema
Our Gunners have won the last three away games and a win today would mean four in a row on the road for the first time since December 2022
Since the beginning of last season, no player has had more goal involvements as a substitute than Stina Blackstenius with five goals and one assist
The Red Devils have conceded just one goal this season, after losing 6-0 to Chelsea on the final day of the 2023/24 campaign
Only Manchester City have had more shots following a high turnover than us this season. Our squad has also recorded the most pressed sequences (108) so far this campaign
Following wins over West Ham and Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United are looking to win their opening three WSL home games for the first time this afternoon

WHAT THE MANAGERS SAY

Slegers on United: "Manchester United will be a different challenge. I think, obviously they've had very good results. They've been playing well. They've recruited a couple of good players, so they're a strong opponent, but if we look at ourselves, we're very, very strong as well."

"We’re mostly focusing on ourselves because we know how good we are and the quality of our players. I think if we are playing at our top level, we can beat any team."

Skinner on us: “Arsenal I know have had a kind of a turbulent time but I've watched their performances and there's been some really good stuff in there. They're an excellent team and it will be a measuring stick of where we're at as well. There is no more [pressure] than usual. We play under pressure almost every game that we play because we want to win games.

“I think Renee Slegers has done a fantastic job. She was there last year with Jonas [Eidevall] as well so she knows that squad inside out. She's got experience herself as a manager. They're in good hands and, until they find the manager that they want, they're in fantastic hands with the coaching staff they've got. Our players will want to go and try and win the game as I'm sure Arsenal's players will as well so hopefully it's a good game. We're looking to test ourselves.”

TEAM NEWS

Lotte Wubben-Moy in the Sobha Realty Training Centre gym

On the subject of team availability, Slegers confirmed that there had been no fresh injuries during the international break.

Lotte Wubben-Moy, who missed the last two games through concussion protocol, left England camp early. "She was back training but got some symptoms, so she’s still a question mark for Sunday," said our interim coach. "But she’s back at the club."