London Derby Day: Chelsea vs Arsenal - Match Preview

This weekend features the highly anticipated WSL clash between Chelsea and Arsenal at Stamford Bridge, promising a thrilling showdown between the top two teams in the highest tier of English women’s football.

Both sides won their previous WSL fixtures, each securing five goals and a clean sheet last weekend. The two clubs also played midweek in the Subway League Cup, confidently booking their places in the semi-finals with impressive victories. Both teams owe much of their success to excellent management, a cornerstone of their accelerated progress this season.

Since the departure of Jonas Eidevall in October and the appointment of interim-turned-permanent manager Renee Slegers, Arsenal have been in splendid form, currently sitting second in the league table on a 13-game unbeaten run across all competitions. One of their key players to watch on Sunday will be forward Alessia Russo, who has scored 11 goals in her last 13 fixtures; a nod to quite literally finding her feet again under new management.

Chelsea’s inaugural season under Sonia Bompastor - which many understandably expected to be a transitional period following the departure of formidable manager Emma Hayes in May last year - has been nothing short of triumphant. The Blues are enjoying an unbeaten streak across all competitions and boast a penchant for scoring multiple goals in nearly every game. But will this streak remain intact after Sunday’s clash?

Heading into the match, the home side sit at the top of the league table with a comfortable seven-point lead and a healthy advantage. Speaking to BBC Sport about playing at Stamford Bridge, midfielder Guro Reiten expressed her enthusiasm for these high-stakes fixtures: “They are the best games. To walk out at Stamford Bridge with the fans behind us, so loud, it’s an amazing feeling. There is extra pressure in those games, and you never know what to expect.”

If selected for Sunday’s game, all eyes will be on Chelsea striker Lauren James, who has recently returned from injury. She has a formidable record of scoring at Stamford Bridge, having netted eight goals in four matches there last season.

Recent history between these two London rivals favours Chelsea, who triumphed 2-1 at the Emirates Stadium in October. Prior to that, Chelsea dominated Arsenal at Stamford Bridge last season with a 3-1 victory, meaning Arsenal will be eager to overturn their record against the Blues.

Kick-off is at 12:30 pm on Sunday, January 26th, with a Chelsea WSL record attendance expected, as over 32,000 tickets have already been sold. For those unable to attend in person, the match will be broadcast live on BBC Two.