🏏 Sat, 6 Sep 2025 13:30 BST
Arsenal Women
vs
London City Lionesses
Positions estimated (no formation data from the API)
Substitutes
Substitutes
Match Preview
- The WSL season begins with Renée Slegers' Arsenal hosting Eder Maestre's London City Lionesses. Arsenal are led from attacking midfield by 35-year-old captain Kim Little, a club legend whose career has taken in OL Reign, Melbourne City and Hibernian. Retired from Scotland duty but still one of the sharpest passers in the division, she will decide how quickly Arsenal can set the tempo.
- Nikita Parris returns to face a former club. The 31-year-old right winger spent time at Arsenal before moving on to Lyon, Manchester City, Manchester United, Everton and Brighton, and she was part of England's Euro 2022-winning squad. Her six goals made her England's leading scorer in 2019 World Cup qualifying, and her explosive pace remains her calling card.
- Saki Kumagai starts at centre-back for London City. The 34-year-old Japan captain has passed 162 caps, converted the winning penalty in the 2011 World Cup final shootout, and collected 19 trophies at Lyon including five Champions League titles, with spells at Bayern Munich and Roma either side. Her reading of the game will be tested by Alessia Russo and Chloe Kelly.
- Arsenal's forward line is loaded. Russo, 26, leads it as a centre-forward whose route to north London ran through Manchester United, Brighton and Chelsea, combining hold-up play with sharp finishing. Chloe Kelly, 27, made her move permanent in 2025 and attacks from the right, while Mariona Caldentey, a 2023 World Cup winner after a decade at Barcelona, supplies left-footed invention from the opposite flank.
- Watch 21-year-old Olivia Smith. The Canada international became the subject of the first £1 million transfer in women's football when she joined from Liverpool, having debuted for her country at 15 and spent time at Sporting CP. As an attacking midfielder with pace and close control, she is Arsenal's most direct answer if London City sit deep.
- London City counter with experience. Kosovare Asllani, 36, has 205 Sweden caps and 50 international goals, a Rio 2016 silver medal, and a CV listing Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester City and AC Milan. Leading the line alongside young winger Isobel Goodwin, the striker's movement and intelligence are designed to pull Arsenal's defence out of shape.
- The visitors' back line is heavily decorated. Elena Linari, 31, was named in the Team of the Tournament at Euro 2025 and has won league titles with Atlético Madrid and Fiorentina, bringing genuine aerial strength. Add Australia's Alanna Kennedy, past 148 caps, and Kumagai, and London City field three centre-backs with World Cup and Olympic pedigree.
- The midfield battle is worth isolating. London City can call on María Pérez, a 23-year-old holding midfielder schooled at Barcelona who won the 2023 World Cup, and Katie Zelem, the 29-year-old former Manchester United captain and that club's third-highest scorer. Arsenal answer with Little and Viktoria Pelova, the 26-year-old Netherlands midfielder who came through Ajax.
- Both benches can change the game. Arsenal hold back Beth Mead, the Euro 2022 Golden Boot winner, Sweden striker Stina Blackstenius, Norway's Frida Maanum and Caitlin Foord, who once played for Vegalta Sendai. London City have 19-year-old Lucía Corrales, a La Masia graduate signed for around £430,000, plus Julia Roddar, a Tokyo 2020 silver medallist.
- The goalkeeping matchup is intriguing too. Daphne van Domselaar, 25, arrived via Aston Villa and FC Twente and was nominated for the 2023 Ballon d'Or, offering the shot-stopping and communication Arsenal's high line demands. London City turn to Spain's Elene Lete, whose height helps her command crosses and claim high balls.