Some pre-game reading for you: Suzanne Wrack meets Lia Walti, Arsenal’s Swiss midfielder who has battled injury, and dealt with the tragic death of compatriot Florijana Ismaili, in recent months.
Team news
Both sides go with attacking line-ups but both have notable absentees in the starting XI. Summer signing Jackie Groenen misses out for United with an injury, while Danielle van de Donk is on the bench for Arsenal.
Manchester United: Earps; Smith, McManus, M Turner, A Turner; Galton, Zelem (c), Ladd, Toone; Sigsworth, Ross.
Subs: Mikalsen, Harris, Green, James, Arnot, Hanson, Edwards.
Arsenal: Zinsberger; Maier, Williamson, Beattie, McCabe; Roord, Nobbs, Little, Evans; Miedema, Mead.
Subs: Peyraud-Magnin, Mitchell, Quinn, Schnaderbeck, Grant, Filis, van de Donk.
Preamble
For the Manchester United women’s team, it has been a long and rocky road to their first ever top-flight home fixture. A supporters’ side floated around the lower divisions before earning affiliation with the club in 2001 – only for funding to be pulled four years later, casting the team into oblivion.
Last year, an official team was born and cantered to promotion, managed by Casey Stoney and with significant squad investment. They are still playing catch up in a landscape that has changed almost beyond recognition – but tonight’s opponents can show them the way.
Arsenal were once England’s dominant force but fell behind Chelsea and Manchester City, only to return to the summit under a canny coach, with a side that blends homegrown talent with imported star names. Joe Montemurro’s team swept to the WSL title last year, and are favourites to do so again, this year.
It’s the next step in a daunting start for United, but Stoney’s side showed in the narrow derby defeat to City that they are ready to compete at this level. An upset is not out of the question here, and then Manchester United really would be back on the women’s football map.
Kick-off is at 7.30pm, BST at Leigh Sports Village.