Weekend Warm-Up: UWCL catch up, a big derby and Skinner's selections
Flo Lloyd-Hughes gets you ready for this weekend's action and highlights some things to look out for.
Welcome back to Weekend Warm-Up, the key to your WSL weekend.
Don’t forget we are hosting our first live event on 3 November in Haggerston, east London. We’re teaming up with the great crew at Baller FC for a special WSL watch party. It’s going to be a ‘Soccer Saturday’ sort of day. Our writers will be there chatting about Manchester United-Arsenal and then we will go ‘around the grounds’ to talk about the other fixtures of the day. Expect analysis, darts and lots of fun. Tickets are free so don’t miss out.
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A derby like no other….
On Saturday, Arsenal host Chelsea in one of the biggest games of the season. This game has taken on an extra layer of drama because of the pressure on Arsenal boss Jonas Eidevall.
The past three games have not been happy viewing for Arsenal fans. There was a stodgy 1-0 win over Leicester City, a seriously dull 0-0 with Everton and then a 5-2 defeat away at Bayern Munich in the Champions League just a few days ago.
Arsenal fans are rightly worried and there is a growing feeling that if the Swedish coach doesn’t get a result against Chelsea on Saturday, or at least get a strong performance from his players, it could be the end of the road for his tenure.
I asked our Arsenal writer Max Radwan and Chelsea writer Jessy Parker Humphreys for their thoughts ahead of this massive game. It’s a great read so make sure you take a look.
Max also wrote about the shocking collapse against Bayern Munich. Tough reading for Arsenal fans but an important look at the current issues facing this team.
Oh what a night
Manchester City pulled off one of the most memorable group stage wins we’ve ever seen in the Uefa Women’s Champions League as they beat Barcelona 2-0 in their opening game in Group D.
It was an amazing night for Gareth Taylor’s side as they handed out only the second defeat for Barcelona in the last 55 competitive games, the other loss came from Chelsea in the semi finals of last year’s competition.
City battled hard, rode their luck at times, but ultimately won out against the three-time European champions. Impressive.
Raphael Adelugba broke down exactly how they bettered the Spanish giants in this piece.
City crash back down to WSL life with a game against Liverpool on Sunday. Matt Beard’s side will be looking to build on an important 3-2 win at Spurs last weekend. Let’s see if City boss Taylor rings the rotations again after such a gruelling midweek test.
Marc Skinner’s tactical tweaks
Last week, Conner Roberts wrote about a growing selection conundrum for Marc Skinner as he still tries to get the best out of his attacking options. United had a weekend off in the WSL after their game against Chelsea was postponed. Their season will restart with a home game against Spurs on Sunday.
Grace Clinton has been United’s best player in the opening games of the campaign with two goals in two league games. A hamstring injury to Melvine Malard has taken her out of the mix for several weeks and put even more pressure on Geyse, Ella Toone and Elisabeth Terland. Conner was impressed with Hinata Miyazawa’s cameo in United’s 2-0 cup win against Liverpool. Maybe it’s time the Japanese international returned to the starting line up for a WSL game? She only started six games last season and drifted in and out of the side after arriving with much fanfare off the back of a starring role at the 2023 Women’s World Cup.
Keep an eye on Skinner’s clipboard on Sunday!
Let me know what games you’re watching this weekend. See you on Monday for the next edition of my newsletter What Happened.