Arsenal Women will kick off their Women's Super League season with a home clash against newly-promoted London City Lionesses W.
The Gunners will be aiming to win the WSL title for the first time since 2019, while the visitors have ambitions of shaking up the regular order following a busy transfer window.
Match preview
Arsenal are preparing to play their first competitive game since stunning Barcelona in May's Women's Champions League final in Lisbon.
Stina Blackstenius scored the decisive goal in the narrow 1-0 win, which secured Arsenal their first European title since 2007.
After leading the Gunners to European glory last term, Renee Slegers will surely have ambitions of ending the club's six-year wait for the WSL title in her first full season in charge.
Slegers has welcomed Taylor Hinds, Olivia Smith and Anneke Borbe to the club during the summer transfer window, while Chloe Kelly has arrived on a permanent deal following a successful loan stint in the second half of last season.
While there will be plenty of excitement surrounding the new additions, Arsenal have just bid farewell to club legend, Lia Walti, who has left after 183 appearances for a new challenge with Italian side Juventus.
Slegers should be confident about her team's chances of taking all three points from their league opener after winning each of her first eight WSL home matches as Arsenal boss, leaving just one win away from setting a new record for the longest winning home start for a manager in the competition's history.
London City Lionesses' Jana Fernandez on August 21, 2025
London City Lionesses are preparing for their first-ever WSL game after winning promotion from the Championship last term.
Jocelyn Precheur's side collected 43 points from 20 matches to win the Championship title ahead of second-placed Birmingham City.
In recent times, the team that comes up from the second tier finds it difficult to stay in the top flight, as demonstrated by the fact that the promoted club has been relegated in the last two WSL seasons.
However, London City owner Michelle Kang will surely have higher expectations after overseeing an ambitious transfer window, which has seen them make 15 permanent additions, including the arrivals of Freya Godfrey and Teyah Goldie from Arsenal.
Jana Fernandez, Elena Linari, Danielle van de Donk, Alanna Kennedy, Katie Zelem and Nikita Parris are among the notable names that have joined Precheur's squad ahead of the 2025-26 campaign, ensuring there is plenty of excitement and anticipation about what the club can achieve this season.
London City have lost each of their last five competitive matches against Arsenal without scoring, but that record will not stop them from entering Saturday's contest with hopes of making a statement against the reigning European champions.
Team News
Arsenal Women's Leah Williamson pictured on May 10, 2025
Arsenal are unable to call upon one of their key players in Leah Williamson, who will miss the start of the season after undergoing a knee procedure following England's penalty shootout win over Spain in the Euro 2025 final.
Alessia Russo will lead the line for the hosts, with the England international looking to enjoy another successful campaign after netting 24 WSL goals in his first two seasons as an Arsenal player.
Hinds and Smith will be hoping to make their Arsenal debuts on Saturday, but they may have to settle for minutes off the bench in the WSL opener.
As for the visitors, there will be plenty of excitement and uncertainty about how they could lineup following their ambitious summer transfer business.
Precheur, who has a wealth of options in defence, could decide to line up with a back four made up of Fernandez, Kennedy, Linari and Rofiat Imuran.
At the opposite end of the pitch, Parris will be hoping to get the opportunity to lead the line against the club where she spent a season in 2021-22.
Arsenal Women possible starting lineup:
Van Domselaar; Fox, Wubben-Moy, Catley, McCabe; Pelova, Little, Caldentey; Kelly, Foord, Russo
London City Lionesses W possible starting lineup:
Lete; Fernandez, Kennedy, Linari, Imuran; Zelem, Kumagai; Goodwin, Asllani, Godrey; Parris
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We say: Arsenal Women 2-1 London City Lionesses W
London City may need time for their new players to gel after transforming their squad over the summer, but with that said, they have the quality to make it a difficult game for the European champions.
While we think it will be a close-fought encounter, we still believe Arsenal will do enough to take all three points from their WSL opener.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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