royal blue mersey 
27-04-2024 08:57
27-04-2024 08:57
Everton Women vs Arsenal: WSL Match Preview
Karen and Sara Holmgaard believe that Everton Women will be taking a lot of confidence into Sunday’s tough test with Arsenal at a sold-out Walton Hall Park.
Brian Sorensen’s side returned to winning ways last week with a hard-fought victory away at Brighton but this weekend face a Jonas Eidevall’s side that still harbours slim hopes of clinching the WSL title.
The Blues will want to finish their season as strong as possible, though, and will be glad to have the Holmgaard twins back on the pitch and combining effectively, as the Seagulls found out last week. Indeed, it was Sara’s deft pass that found her sister at the back post, who made no mistake with he header to put her team in front.
But it is the Gunners the team are now focused on, and Karen knows what tasks lie ahead in the remaining few league games
“Arsenal are a really good team,” she said. “We got three important points last weekend and we take a lot of confidence heading into Sunday. “That’s important for us. We need to continue in this way, play as well as we can for what is going to be some tough last few games.”
Kathrine Kuhl will be out due to Everton facing her parent club, and is joined on the sidelines by Aurora Galli, who picked up a knock against Brighton and looks likely to miss the next two games.
Heather Payne, Rikke Madsen, Emily Ramsey and Toni Duggan all remain out, while Katrine Veje faces a race against time for Sunday’s game.
Karoline Olesen is a doubt, as is Hanna Bennison, who is struggling with illness.
The Opposition
March 15 was the last time Arsenal tasted defeat in all competitions, with title rivals Chelsea triumphing 3-1 at Stamford Bridge. Since then the Gunners have won four, conceded just once and claimed revenge over their London rivals by besting them 1-0 in the League Cup final.
A team packed with strength and quality, Stina Blackstenius leads her team’s scoring charts with 15 but is followed by Alessia Russo, who has 11.
A goal at the weekend for the influential Beth Mead would take her goals return into double figures. As well as an effective forward line, Arsenal also boast a defensive record of conceding just 18 goals in 19 WSL games.
A hard-working midfield helps protect the rearguard, which is marshalled by homegrown talent Leah Williamson, with the 27-year-old England Women’s captain at the peak of her powers for both club and country.
Eidevall has no fresh injury concerns ahead of the trip to Merseyside, and has confirmed that Lotte Wubben-Moy and Kyra Cooney-Cross are also in contention for the weekend.
Previous Meetings
Everton’s record against their weekend guests is not a good one, with the Gunners claiming more victories against the Toffees than any other team has done.
Veteran striker Duggan was on the scoresheet the last time the Blues ran out winners against the North Londoners, with the 32-year-old bagging the third in a 3-1 win in 2011. Everton do boast the distinction of ending Arsenal’s incredible 108-game unbeaten run way back in 2009 however, when goals from Fara Williams, Michelle Hinnigan and Jill Scott MBE secured a resounding win in the capital.
Last season’s promising opening 25 minutes for Sorensen’s side was quickly undone in a 13-minute blitz from the Gunners, who netted four times to end the fixture as a contest at Walton Hall Park last May.
The Blues kept plugging away gallantly and netted a deserved consolation strike courtesy of Katja Snoeijs four minutes from time.
But records are made to be broken and the pressure will be on Eidevall’s side, who are looking to keep their faint title hopes alive as they come up against a hardworking Everton team who will want to have a say in where the WSL crown will be heading on route to finish their campaign as strongly as possible.
Everton Women take on Arsenal in the Women’ Super League on Sunday, 28 April at Walton Hall Park. Kick-off will be at 12.30pm (BST).
Brian Sorensen’s side returned to winning ways last week with a hard-fought victory away at Brighton but this weekend face a Jonas Eidevall’s side that still harbours slim hopes of clinching the WSL title.
The Blues will want to finish their season as strong as possible, though, and will be glad to have the Holmgaard twins back on the pitch and combining effectively, as the Seagulls found out last week. Indeed, it was Sara’s deft pass that found her sister at the back post, who made no mistake with he header to put her team in front.
But it is the Gunners the team are now focused on, and Karen knows what tasks lie ahead in the remaining few league games
“Arsenal are a really good team,” she said. “We got three important points last weekend and we take a lot of confidence heading into Sunday. “That’s important for us. We need to continue in this way, play as well as we can for what is going to be some tough last few games.”
Kathrine Kuhl will be out due to Everton facing her parent club, and is joined on the sidelines by Aurora Galli, who picked up a knock against Brighton and looks likely to miss the next two games.
Heather Payne, Rikke Madsen, Emily Ramsey and Toni Duggan all remain out, while Katrine Veje faces a race against time for Sunday’s game.
Karoline Olesen is a doubt, as is Hanna Bennison, who is struggling with illness.
The Opposition
March 15 was the last time Arsenal tasted defeat in all competitions, with title rivals Chelsea triumphing 3-1 at Stamford Bridge. Since then the Gunners have won four, conceded just once and claimed revenge over their London rivals by besting them 1-0 in the League Cup final.
A team packed with strength and quality, Stina Blackstenius leads her team’s scoring charts with 15 but is followed by Alessia Russo, who has 11.
A goal at the weekend for the influential Beth Mead would take her goals return into double figures. As well as an effective forward line, Arsenal also boast a defensive record of conceding just 18 goals in 19 WSL games.
A hard-working midfield helps protect the rearguard, which is marshalled by homegrown talent Leah Williamson, with the 27-year-old England Women’s captain at the peak of her powers for both club and country.
Eidevall has no fresh injury concerns ahead of the trip to Merseyside, and has confirmed that Lotte Wubben-Moy and Kyra Cooney-Cross are also in contention for the weekend.
Previous Meetings
Everton’s record against their weekend guests is not a good one, with the Gunners claiming more victories against the Toffees than any other team has done.
Veteran striker Duggan was on the scoresheet the last time the Blues ran out winners against the North Londoners, with the 32-year-old bagging the third in a 3-1 win in 2011. Everton do boast the distinction of ending Arsenal’s incredible 108-game unbeaten run way back in 2009 however, when goals from Fara Williams, Michelle Hinnigan and Jill Scott MBE secured a resounding win in the capital.
Last season’s promising opening 25 minutes for Sorensen’s side was quickly undone in a 13-minute blitz from the Gunners, who netted four times to end the fixture as a contest at Walton Hall Park last May.
The Blues kept plugging away gallantly and netted a deserved consolation strike courtesy of Katja Snoeijs four minutes from time.
But records are made to be broken and the pressure will be on Eidevall’s side, who are looking to keep their faint title hopes alive as they come up against a hardworking Everton team who will want to have a say in where the WSL crown will be heading on route to finish their campaign as strongly as possible.
Everton Women take on Arsenal in the Women’ Super League on Sunday, 28 April at Walton Hall Park. Kick-off will be at 12.30pm (BST).