When and where
The game will take place on Sunday 13 December in a 14:30 (UK) kick-off at the Academy Stadium.
CITY v ARSENAL | FREE DIGITAL MATCHDAY PROGRAMME
The game will be shown live via BT Sport in the UK and the FA Player elsewhere.
These are the channels broadcasting the game around the world, courtesy of LiveSoccerTV.com:
| Canada | Sportsnet World Now, Sportsnet Now, Sportsnet West, Sportsnet Pacific, Sportsnet Ontario, Sportsnet East |
| Denmark | TV3 Sport, Viaplay Denmark |
| Finland | V Sport Football, Viaplay Finland |
| Iceland | Viaplay Iceland |
| International | ATA Football, Fanatiz International, The FA Player |
| Ireland | BT Sport 1, BT Sport App, BTSport.com |
| Israel | Sport 2 |
| Norway | Viaplay Norway |
| Sweden | Viaplay Sweden, V Sport Football |
| United Kingdom | BT Sport 1, BT Sport App, BTSport.com |
| United States | NBC Sports App, NBCSN, NBCSports.com |
You can also follow the action via our dedicated matchday Twitter account: @ManCityWomen
RULES
For safety reasons in the wake of the pandemic, the fixture will be played behind-closed-doors.
In line with current protocols, additional balls will be placed at intervals around the pitch.
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Form guide
City are unbeaten in our last four league games and have won both of our December matches since returning from international break, defeating Everton 3-0 in the FA WSL and Göteborg FC 2-1 in the Champions League Round of 32 first leg.
Arsenal defeated Birmingham 3-0 last time out but were winless (in 90 minutes) in their previous three games, drawing with Tottenham and Chelsea, and losing to Manchester United.
With 19 points from their first eight games, the Gunners sit four points above City in the FA WSL table.
WATCH: Bonner: City thrive in the big games
TEAM NEWS
Rose Lavelle is unavailable and will be so for a short spell with a slight knock, while Demi Stokes could return, having missed the midweek Champions League trip to Sweden due to compassionate leave.
Lauren Hemp may also feature, although her return from injury is being managed.
Megan Campbell and Aoife Mannion are sidelined.
Manager’s preview: Gareth Taylor
“It will be a good game.
“We’re in amongst it (in the title race) and three points would be a big push for us.
“We want momentum. We’ve had two wins and we’re pleased with that.
“We have three games to come before Christmas, which is a nice run of games, and we’re looking forward to it.”
CHECK OUT OUR 2020/21 WOMEN’S TRAINING RANGE
Last meeting
The pair last met at the Academy Stadium in the semi-finals of the Women’s FA Cup back on the opening day of October.
A superb, battling 2-1 victory secured our spot at Wembley, as captain Steph Houghton and summer recruit Sam Mewis fired home to edge a thrilling encounter, which also saw World Cup winner Rose Lavelle make her debut for the Club.
Jordan Nobbs had levelled before the break with a stunning long-range effort but once again, City’s fighting spirit shone through with an impressive display.
WATCH: Highlights: City 2-1 Arsenal
Last time out
Georgia Stanway netted her 50th goal for City as Gareth Taylor’s side fought back from an early setback to gain advantage in the Champions League Round of 32.
The forward struck four minutes before the break in Sweden to bag a crucial away goal and level the tie, after Vilde Bøe Risa had opened the scoring for Göteborg FC inside two minutes at the Valhalla IP.
Sam Mewis then marked her European debut with a goal to turn the game on its head with just under 15 minutes to go, handing the visitors a strong 2-1 advantage to take back to Manchester in a week’s time.
City mounted an impressive comeback in difficult conditions on a bitterly cold evening in Sweden, to give us a crucial advantage going into the return leg in Manchester.
WATCH: UWCL highlights: Göteborg 1-2 City
Stats
None of the previous 13 FA Women’s Super League meetings between City and Arsenal have ended level, with Gareth Taylor‘s side winning seven to Arsenal’s six. Indeed, we are the only side to have beaten Arsenal more often than they’ve been beaten by the Gunners in the WSL.
The side playing at home has won each of the last six matches, with City winning each of the last three clashes in which we’ve hosted the Gunners by an aggregate score of 9-3.
City are unbeaten in 25 league games on home soil (W20 D5), winning two of our three matches under new boss Gareth Taylor so far (D1).
Arsenal are looking to avoid suffering back-to-back away league defeats for the very first time, having lost 0-1 on their last trip in the competition – also in Manchester, to United.
Last weekend at Everton, Caroline Weir set up each of City’s three goals, becoming the first player to do that in the league since December 2019 (Vivianne Miedema v Bristol City). Indeed, her last three assists beforehand came across a run of 12 games.
Further reading
- Houghton pays tribute to 50-goal Stanway
- Taylor: Players rose to the challenge
- Roebuck: No excuse not to challenge in Champions League
- Mewis and Walsh: UWCL winners raising the bar
- Roebuck: My motivation is to be the best
- Walsh leading by example
News about Man City v Arsenal
Full-match replay: City 2-1 Arsenal
Manchester City left it late against fellow Women's Super League title contenders Arsenal, with Caroline Weir’s 94th-minute strike earning a deserved 2-1 victory at the Academy Stadium. Watch more
