Arsenal are currently third in the WSL, trailing by two points behind Chelsea and Manchester United. This weekend, they’ll take on West Ham United – can they close the gap with a win?
Arsenal are three points behind their title rivals – despite this, they have a game in hand. A heavy win could put the Gunners at the top of the WSL, so long as they can exceed United and Chelsea’s goal difference.
However, this is much easier said than done – especially against local rivals West Ham, who will be keen to make sure that Arsenal do not come away from the game with what they want.
This being said, West Ham have lost their last two games in the WSL. They were beaten by Manchester City 1-0 and Everton 3-0 – both of these teams are in the top half of the WSL, so they are understandable defeats.
West Ham have one of the WSL’s leakiest defences, conceding 22 goals in 12 games – only the bottom three teams (Reading, Brighton and Leicester) have let more in. Meanwhile, Arsenal are one of the league’s leading scorers, with 26 goals across ten league games.
This sounds like good news for the Gunners, especially when you consider that West Ham haven’t scored in the league since December 11.
In the reverse fixture, it was Arsenal who emerged victorious, winning by a score of 3-1. The Hammers took the lead in the first half thanks to club captain Dagný Brynjarsdóttir, but Arsenal pegged them back with goals coming through Jordan Nobbs, Stina Blackstenius and Frida Maanum.