Scott Phelan has confirmed that there are no fresh injury concerns for his Everton Women side, who head into the final week of the season facing two games in four days, starting with a trip to the capital to face title-chasing Arsenal.
The boss also revealed that club captain Megan Finnigan will not feature this campaign while continuing to make steady progress as she recovers from an ACL injury, but WSL Player of the Season nominee Ruby Mace is available after suspension.
It is more than likely that the 22-year-old will return to the starting XI, but whether the England international slots in alongside Martina Fernandez at the heart of the defence or assumes a role in her more natural position of midfield remains to be seen.
LEIGH, ENGLAND - MARCH 21: Martina Fernandez and Ruby Mace of Everton interact in the warm up prior to the Barclays Women’s Super League match between Manchester United and Everton at Progress with Unity Stadium on March 21, 2026 in Leigh, England. (Photo by Annabel Lee-Ellis/Getty Images)
LEIGH, ENGLAND - MARCH 21: Martina Fernandez and Ruby Mace of Everton interact in the warm up prior to the Barclays Women’s Super League match between Manchester United and Everton at Progress with Unity Stadium on March 21, 2026 in Leigh, England. (Photo by Annabel Lee-Ellis/Getty Images)
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With the likelihood of finishing no higher than their current position of eighth, the Toffees still have pride to play for - as well as the playing futuresof some of the team - and will want to reverse the process of four straight defeats, which will have Phelan nervously looking at the summer and whether he himself will be in the hotseat come next season.
And with tomorrow’s trip to North London being followed by a home encounter with bottom club Leicester City at Goodison Park this Sunday, will the boss gamble on something a bit different, or stick to what he knows and what began his reign of three league wins on the spin?
The Opposition
With current leaders Manchester City requiring a solitary point in their last game of the season away at Liverpool on Sunday, Renée Slegers’ team know that they simply have to be Everton on Wednesday, before trying to conquer their Merseyside rivals four days later, to stand any chance of claiming an unlikely fourth WSL title.
And the Gunners, who have already claimed the inaugural FIFA Women’s Champions Cup this season, can all on an array of talent within their ranks, including Mace’s fellow WSL Player of the season nominee, Alessia Russo.
BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - MAY 09: Alessia Russo of Arsenal celebrates scoring her team’s third goal during the Barclays Women’s Super League match between Aston Villa and Arsenal at Villa Park on May 09, 2026 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Annabel Lee-Ellis - WSL/WSL Football via Getty Images)
BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - MAY 09: Alessia Russo of Arsenal celebrates scoring her team’s third goal during the Barclays Women’s Super League match between Aston Villa and Arsenal at Villa Park on May 09, 2026 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Annabel Lee-Ellis - WSL/WSL Football via Getty Images)
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With just one defeat in the league all season, Arsenal have endured recent cup heartbreak recently, exiting both the Champions League and FA Cup in the past six weeks, while Brighton & Hove Albion, their conquerors in the latter, also inflicted a painful blow on league glory by holding Slegers’ team last week at Broadfield Stadium.
Had Arsenal won that game they would now be in second and not relying on goal difference, which currently in favour of the Citizens by four goals.
But Everton will be acutely aware of what that result means for them, and Phelan will be well aware of the steel his side need to show at the back to stop what will be heavy artillery from the Gunners.
Previous Meetings
If Everton are to get a result in the capital, Phelan would be wise to look at last season’s encounter which was contested at the Emirates, when a Courtney Brosnan masterclass and some resolute defending secured an unlikely point on the road for the Blues.
That was the second consecutive league draw in this fixture following Issy Hobson’s dramatic equaliser in injury time at Walton Hall Park in April 2024, the academy graduate’s first goal for the senior side.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - APRIL 28: Issy Hobson of Everton scores her team’s first goal during the Barclays Women´s Super League match between Everton FC and Arsenal FC at Walton Hall Park on April 28, 2024 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Lewis Storey - The FA/The FA via Getty Images)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - APRIL 28: Issy Hobson of Everton scores her team’s first goal during the Barclays Women´s Super League match between Everton FC and Arsenal FC at Walton Hall Park on April 28, 2024 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Lewis Storey - The FA/The FA via Getty Images)
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The Gunners would claim all three points in December 2025 however, when Goodison played host to a manic opening 15 minutes, which found the visitors 2-1 up, before Olivia Smith’s late goal secured victory for her team.
Everton Women can completely derail Arsenal’s title hopes tomorrow at the Emirates, kick-off for the Blues’ penultimate WSL encounter of the season is at 7pm BST (2pm ET, 11am PT).