Pre-match events...
Ahead of kick-off, ticket holders will have the chance to meet West Ham United legend Kate Longhurst!
Our record WSL appearance maker will be available to sign autographs between 6.30pm-7pm BST in the Ted Hardy Suite, located inside the Dagenham & Redbridge Clubhouse at Chigwell Construction Stadium.
Longhurst, who was a member of our first-ever professional women’s team in 2018, represented her childhood club 130 times over half a decade, including an appearance in the 2019 Women’s FA Cup final at Wembley.
Also, Hammerhead will be in attendance around the ground, so make sure to hello!
Opposition...
Arsenal head into Friday's clash following their opening-day victory over newly-promoted London City Lionesses on Saturday, in which Olivia Smith, Chloe Kelly, Stina Blackstenius and Maanum scored in a 4-1 success.
It was the perfect start for Renée Slegers and her side, who will hope to knock Chelsea off top spot this season having watched the Blues lift the last six Barclays Women’s Super League titles.
The Gunners, with four top-flight titles to their name, may have finished 12 points behind Sonia Bompastor’s side last season, but they more than made up for it when they beat Barcelona 1-0 to lift the UEFA Women’s Champions League trophy in May.
Blackstenius' goal late in the day in Lisbon helped the Gunners win the continental title for the second time in their history and crown a successful campaign for Slegers’ side, after the Dutch head coach replaced Swede Jonas Eidevall in the dugout midway through last season.
After the departure of Eidevall in October 2024, Slegers’ first league game in charge of Arsenal came against West Ham at Chigwell Construction Stadium. Much like when the two sides met in a pre-season friendly in August, the Hammers were resolute, but beaten by two second-half goals.
At that point, Slegers was in the dugout on an interim basis, but in January was appointed as the club’s permanent head coach. The former 55-times capped Netherlands international has taken charge of Arsenal 33 times in all competitions, losing only seven.