After a two-week international break, our Gunners are finally back in Women's Super League action and back at Emirates Stadium.
We'll be looking to build on an unbeaten November as we host Aston Villa in north London this afternoon, a side that currently occupy eighth position in the table.
[LAST CHANCE TO BUY TICKETS](https://www.eticketing.co.uk/arsenal/EDP/Event/Index/3475)
Last time around
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We last hosted the Villans in N5 for a rollercoaster WSL tie back in October 2023. Maz Pacheco gave the visitors a lead in the first half that looked set to stay until some stoppage time magic.
Katie McCabe and Alessia Russo scored in the 92nd and 94th minute respectively to pull off a dramatic comeback in front of the Emirates Stadium faithful. Not only that, the victory also saw the heroic return of Beth Mead after months on the sidelines with an ACL injury.
FACTS AND STATS
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* We have won six of our eight games against Aston Villa in the Women’s Super League. Most recently, our side beat the Villans home and away in the league last season
* Our Gunners have won the last two WSL games without conceding. A win this afternoon would mean three consecutive victories and three consecutive clean sheets for the first time since October 2022
* Among teams from outside London, only Manchester City (55%) and Manchester United (35%) have a better WSL win rate in the capital than Aston Villa (29% - P17 W5 D4 L8)
* Only Khadija Shaw (4) and Guro Reiten (4) scored more league goals than Arsenal’s Alessia Russo in November. A goal for our number 23 today would mean goals in four straight WSL games for the first time
* Jordan Nobbs turns 32 years old upon her return to Emirates Stadium and could be the 10th different player to score a WSL goal on their birthday. The former Gunner assisted on her 27th birthday in 2019 for Arsenal against Reading
what the managers say
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**Slegers on Aston Villa:** "Aston Villa are a great team. If you look at their results, there has been one goal difference except for the Brighton game. They always make it hard for their opponents.
"Like us, they always have strong game-changers that they bring into the game, they’re also strong at the end of the game so I think it’s a game we don’t want to underestimate."
**De Pauw on us:** "I think Arsenal are a very good team. I saw the qualities that they have but we have, for certain, confidence in ourselves. Let's try to make the next step in the next game, give our all and give Arsenal a challenge."
TEAM NEWS
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Following the birth of her child in August, Amanda Ilestedt has returned to Sobha Realty Training Centre to take part in individual pitch sessions. Victoria Pelova continues to progress well in her ACL rehab and even took part in small group training sessions during the international break.
Renée Slegers did not share any further team updates.
MATCH OFFICIALS
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**Referee:** Abi Byrne
**Assistant referees:** Nicoleta Bria and Leoni Harland
**Fourth official:** Hannah Gardner
HOW TO WATCH
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Tickets are still available to join us in person for the clash at Emirates Stadium - [secure your place now!](https://www.eticketing.co.uk/arsenal/EDP/Event/Index/3475)
For those supporters watching at home, all the action will be streamed live on the Barclays WSL Youtube channel. Kick-off is at 2pm UK.
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