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Arsenal Arsenal

When and Where

Our huge WSL clash gets under way on Sunday 23 January, with kick-off at the Academy Stadium scheduled for 18:45 (UK).

The match is being broadcast live on Sky Sports Football in the UK, while you can also follow the key bits of the action over on Twitter: @ManCityWomen.

A comprehensive match report will also follow soon after the final whistle, as well as reaction from Gareth Taylor and players alike.

Highlights from our Academy Stadium encounter and a CITY+ full-match replay can also be accessed the following day.

TICKET INFORMATION

Tickets for all City home games are on sale and are able to be purchased online or at the Academy Stadium on the day of the game.

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Gareth Taylor Preview

The City boss revealed in his pre-match press conference that there were no fresh injury concerns ahead of the tie.

Taylor also provided an update on the fitness of long-term absentee Ellie Roebuck, but admitted a potential return for goalkeeper Karima Taieb against Arsenal remains in the balance.

“We’ve had a high volume of games in a short period, we’ve recovered well in the last couple of days and the team are working tremendously hard both on and off the pitch to make sure they recover in the right manner. Everyone is looking good,” he said.

“(Ellie Roebuck) had another couple of training sessions under her belt, this weekend is too soon but our goalkeeping department is starting to get some better news. Karen Bardsley isn’t a million miles away either.

“We’ve had a few up and down sessions with Karima (Taieb) in terms of feeling some discomfort. This weekend will be too soon for Ellie, but she’s not a million miles away.”

WATCH: Match highlights: City 2-1 Arsenal

Previous Meeting

It was a frustrating day at the office in our last meeting with the Gunners, with City falling to a 5-0 defeat back in September 2021.

However, our previous clash with Arsenal at the Academy Stadium harbours fonder memories, with Caroline Weir’s stoppage time strike in December 2020 earning Taylor’s side a dramatic 2-1 victory.

WATCH: Conti Cup highlights: City 3-1 Bristol

Last time out

City booked our place in the semi-finals of the Continental Cup with a comfortable 3-1 win over Bristol City.

In her first start since October, Bunny Shaw starred, bagging two goals before half time as Gareth Taylor‘s side came from behind after the visitors had broken the deadlock through an Alex Greenwood own-goal.

A dominant performance and a third goal, courtesy of Vicky Losada, helped City overcome the early set-back to extend our winning run to six, ending Bristol’s nine-game unbeaten streak in the process.

Form guide

City come into the tie having won each of our last six matches in all competitions, scoring 25 times while conceding just four in the process.

Arsenal top the FA WSL table but have won just one of their last six games, losing five, including a midweek Continental Cup elimination at the hands of Manchester United.

Stats

• City have won our last four home league matches against Arsenal, scoring 11 goals. Our last home defeat against the Gunners was back in May 2017 - a 1-0 defeat.
• After scoring 11 goals in our first seven WSL matches this season, City have netted 17 in their last four matches, winning all four and conceding just twice across them.
• This will be our first WSL home game since a 5-0 victory against Aston Villa in November 2021. We have won our last four WSL matches, scoring three or more in each game (17 goals in total), and could net 3+ goals in five consecutive WSL games for the first time since a run of eight (W8) between June 2017 and January 2018.
• City have kept three clean sheets in our last four league games (conceded two), as many shutouts as they achieved in their previous 10 WSL matches combined.
• We have played 16 FA WSL games against Arsenal without ever drawing (W9 L7) - the most played fixture in the competition without a single draw.

• The two sides to have had the most high turnovers (possessions that start in open play and begin 40m or less from the opponent’s goal) in the WSL this season are City (71) and Arsenal (85).
• Only against Bristol City (9) has Ellen White scored more WSL goals than she has against Arsenal (7).
• Lauren Hemp has had the most ball carries with a chance created (12) in the WSL this season, as well as having the joint-most ball carries ending with a shot (also 12), although only of those has ended in a goal being scored.
• Georgia Stanway has scored in her last four WSL appearances for City, netting five goals. The only two players to score in five in a row for Man City are Toni Duggan (May – August 2015) and Nikita Parris (September – October 2018).
• Lucy Bronze has played seven WSL games for City against Arsenal without scoring, against no other team has she played against more often in the competition without netting at least once (also seven against Chelsea).
• Beth Mead has created the most chances for her team-mates in the WSL this season (28) and assisted one their five goals against City in September. Mead has 34 assists in the WSL, only one behind the all-time record in WSL history set by Karen Carney with 35.
• Kim Little has been directly involved in four goals (two goals, two assists) in her five WSL games against Man City, netting a brace in the 5-0 victory in September 2021.