Preview: Arsenal Women vs. Manchester City Women - prediction, team news, lineups

After securing their place in the Women's Champions League semi-finals, a buoyant Arsenal Women's side will welcome Manchester City Women to Meadow Park for Sunday's Women's Super League contest.

Like the Gunners, the visitors will also be in a positive mood after beating reigning WSL champions Chelsea last weekend.

Match preview

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Arsenal's prepared for the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final against Bayern Munich with a commanding 5-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur in last Saturday's North London derby.

Despite easing past their local rivals, Arsenal knew they would have their work cut out to get the better of Bayern after losing 1-0 in the first leg.

However, the Gunners managed to turn the tie on its head within the opening half-hour of Wednesday's encounter at the Emirates Stadium.

Frida Maanum opened the scoring with a thunderous strike from distance which whistled into the top corner, before Stina Blackstenius headed home what proved to be the decisive goal, securing the Gunners a place in the last four of the Champions League for the first time in 10 years.

Arsenal cannot afford to rest on their laurels though, as they are currently embroiled in a battle for a top-three spot and the WSL title, with the Gunners currently sitting in fourth position - two points adrift of Chelsea and three points away from Man City and Manchester United, who have both played a game more.

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Man City highlighted their title credentials last weekend when they defeated the defending WSL champions Chelsea 2-0 at the Academy Stadium.

First-half strikes from Filippa Angeldahl and Lauren Hemp guided Man City to their fifth consecutive league victory.

With goal difference keeping them off top spot, the Citizens will be targeting their second WSL title after previously being crowned champions of England in 2016.

Since losing to Chelsea in September, Man City have embarked on a 14-game unbeaten league run, which has included 12 victories.

Although Gareth Taylor's side were knocked out of the League Cup semi-finals by Arsenal last month, they managed to get revenge in the WSL just days later, claiming a narrow 2-1 home victory, and they will now look to complete a league double over the Gunners.

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Arsenal are still unable to call upon long-term absentees Vivianne Miedema and Beth Mead, while Steph Catley remains unavailable due to a foot injury.

Kim Little and Katie McCabe are major doubts for the Gunners after they were both forced off against Bayern.

If the pair are unable to feature against Man City, Lotte Wubben-Moy and Laura Wienroither could be presented with starting berths.

As for the visitors, Taylor has revealed that there are doubts over the availability of Alanna Kennedy and Demi Stokes, who both featured on the bench last weekend.

Hemp has recovered from an ear infection, which will allow Man City to name an unchanged starting XI for Sunday's contest.

Having netted 15 goals in the top flight this season, WSL top-scorer Khadija Shaw will continue to lead the line for the Citizens.

Arsenal Women possible starting lineup:

Zinsberger; Wienroither, Wubben-Moy, Rafaelle, Maritz; Williamson, Walti; Pelova, Maanum, Foord; Blackstenius

Manchester City Women possible starting lineup:

Roebuck; Morgan, Houghton, Greenwood, Aleixandri; Angeldahl, Hasegawa, Coombs; Kelly, Hemp, Shaw

We say: Arsenal Women 1-1 Manchester City Women

The hosts have won six of their eight home league games this season, but we think they may have to settle for a point when they face a Man City side who will have fresher legs following Arsenal's European exploits in midweek.

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