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

With the Women's Super League title race heating up, the league leaders face a tough fixture on Saturday when Arsenal Women welcome Manchester United Women to Meadow Park.

Sitting five points adrift of their hosts, the Red Devils could put themselves firmly in the title fixture with a victory over the Gunners.

Match preview

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The Gunners may sit four points clear at the top, but with Chelsea possessing a game in hand, Arsenal's lead at the summit of the WSL is a precarious one.

Jonas Eidevall's side do enter the contest with an air of confidence as they look to extend their unbeaten run to four games in all competitions.

In their last league outing, the Gunners came from a goal down against Brighton & Hove Albion to win 2-1 thanks to efforts from Vivianne Miedema and Beth Mead.

They did, however, make hard work of a FA Cup contest with Championship side London City Lionesses, with the Gunners scraping to a 1-0 win courtesy of a strike from Miedema.

With a 100% record at home in the league this term, Arsenal will feel confident of claiming three points this weekend despite being faced by tough opposition.

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Meanwhile, the visitors will have to pick themselves up after a 3-1 defeat away to Chelsea in the league cup semi-final on Wednesday.

All of the goals came in the first half, with Pernille Harder and Jessie Fleming giving the hosts the lead before United hit back through Vilde Boe Risa, but a Jess Carter effort before half time proved to be the final goal of the encounter.

Marc Skinner's side do not have time to dwell on that defeat as they now turn their attention to a crucial league fixture against the league leaders.

Man United's main goal will be a top-three finish, but with only five points separating themselves and Arsenal, they may be dreaming of a serious title challenge.

Although they lost in the reverse league fixture, Skinner will be looking for his side to draw confidence from the 1-0 win that they achieved over the Gunners in the League Cup just last month.

Team News

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Following their return from the Asia Cup, Lydia Williams, Steph Catley and Caitlin Foord are available for selection.

January signing Rafaelle is likely to continue her new centre-back partnership with Leah Williamson on Saturday, and the pair are expected to be joined in the backline by Laura Wienroither and Katie McCabe.

Miedema has rediscovered her goalscoring form in her last two previous competitive appearances and she could be joined in a front three by Tobin Heath and Mead.

As for the visitors, Hayley Ladd and Ella Toone will return to the squad are missing the League Cup semi-final due to suspension.

Goalkeeper Sophie Baggaley has featured regularly in the League Cup this term, but her red card on Wednesday will mean that she will be suspended for the trip to Arsenal, with Sofia Middleton-Patel set to come into the squad for the weekend contest.

Alessia Russo will lead the line for the visitors as she looks to add to the four league goals that she has scored this season.

Arsenal Women possible starting lineup:

Zinsberger; Wienroither, Williamson, Rafaelle, McCabe; Walti, Nobbs, Little; Heath, Mead, Miedema

Manchester United Women possible starting lineup:

Earps; Battle, Thorisdottir, Mannion, Blundell; Ladd, Zelem, Boe Risa; Toone, Galton, Russo

We say: Arsenal Women 2-1 Manchester United Women

Before losing to Chelsea in midweek, Man United had enjoyed a seven-game winning run, but with Arsenal proving to be invincible at home in the WSL this season, we think that the Gunners will edge out the visitors on Saturday.