A gargantuan clash helps kick off the 2024/25 Women’s Super League season as Arsenal host last term’s runners-up Manchester City on Sunday.

The Gunners have already been in action plenty this season, playing three matches in the qualifying rounds of the UEFA Women’s Champions League. Victories over Rangers and Rosenborg were followed by a surprise 1-0 defeat to Swedish outfit BK Hacken on Wednesday, with the return leg taking place next week.

They now turn their attention to an incredibly challenging start to the domestic campaign, with last season’s Conti Cup winners welcoming Man City to the Emirates Stadium.

Man City were also in European action midweek as they search for Champions League qualification and they put five unanswered goals past Paris FC to all but secure their spot in the continent’s premier competition.

With Emma Hayes having left Chelsea, Gareth Taylor will be hoping that this is the year his Man City side leapfrog the Blues in the table. They have finished second to the west London outfit in three of the last five seasons, coming behind Chelsea on goal difference alone in 2023/24.

Here is 90min’s guide to a blockbuster WSL clash.

Arsenal vs Man City H2H Record (Last Five Games)

Current form (all competitions)

Jonas Eidevall is unlikely to make too many changes from the side that tasted defeat midweek, although he will expect a stronger display.

Rosa Kafaji featured against her former employers in the 1-0 defeat and is in line to make her first WSL start. Former Barcelona star Mariona Caldentey will also make her debut WSL appearance on the left flank, with Beth Mead starting on the opposite side and Alessia Russo up top.

Along the backline, Leah Williamson was rested against Hacken but should return to partner Lotte Wuben-Moy, with Katie McCabe and Emily Fox at full-back.

Arsenal predicted lineup vs Man City (4-2-3-1): Zinsberger; Fox, Williamson, Wubben-Moy, McCabe; Little, Cooney-Cross; Mead, Kafaji, Caldentey; Russo.

Vivianne Miedema made her competitive debut for Man City against Paris FC and could well line up against former side Arsenal on Sunday, who surprisingly let her leave for free during the summer. She scored in France and will be looking to prove a point on her north London return.

Khadija Shaw didn’t travel to the French capital due to a visa issue and will be fresh to start up top. The 2023/24 WSL top scorer bagged 21 times for the Cityzens last term and will be desperate to keep her good form going.

Man City predicted lineup vs Arsenal (4-2-3-1): Keating; Casparij, Aleixandri, Greenwood, Ouahabi; Park, Hasegawa; Fowler, Miedema, Hemp; Shaw.

Such an enormous fixture taking place on the opening weekend of the season makes it even tougher to predict, with both Arsenal and Man City fatigued from their midweek trips across Europe. Recent meetings between these sides have been fiercely contested and Sunday will be no different.

Arsenal do boast home advantage and won this exact fixture 2-1 last term, but Man City claimed two victories in the other clashes in 2023/24. The Gunners have a formidable front line – as do Man City – and it may be a battle of the forwards this weekend.

Regardless, it’s guaranteed to be a cracker.

Prediction: Arsenal 2-2 Man City

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