Casey Stoney with Man Utd Women in a training session

Women's match preview: United v Arsenal

Monday 16 September 2019 12:24

Manchester United Women play our first home Women’s Super League game tonight, as 2018/19 champions Arsenal Women make the trip to Leigh Sports Village.

After a narrow defeat in our season opener against Manchester City, Casey Stoney’s side will be hoping to get off the mark against the Gunners.

Here’s everything you need to know about the match and our opponents:

HOW CAN I WATCH THE GAME?

Tonight’s fixture is being broadcast live on BT Sport 1 from 19:15 BST, with kick-off scheduled for 19:30 BST. Our official Twitter account @ManUtdWomen will be providing regular updates from Leigh, while a full match report of our encounter with the Gunners will be published on ManUtd.com and our Official App. MUTV will be showing a re-run of the match at 21:30 BST and video highlights will be available on the website from Tuesday.

The Reds were narrowly edged out in our season opener against rivals City.

TEAM NEWS

Casey Stoney gave full debuts to six summer signings at the Etihad last Saturday, with a further new addition in Aurora Mikalsen on the bench. The Norwegian arrived at the club 10 days ago and will continue to be involved in the squad going forward after Emily Ramsey and Fran Bentley were ruled out with long-term injuries. Last season’s number one Siobhan Chamberlain is taking some time away from first-team action as she is pregnant with her first child. Lauren James, Amy Turner and Kirsty Hanson all came on as substitutes during the City defeat and will be pushing for starting berths this week.

A LOOK AT THE OPPOSITION

Arsenal powered to a first WSL title in seven years last season, finishing seven points clear of Manchester City having won 18 of their 20 matches in the league. Vivianne Miedema, who hit 31 goals in all competitions and was named PFA Player’s Player of the Year, is in line to return tonight having missed out on the Gunners’ opening-day win against West Ham with a hamstring injury. She joins fellow Dutch stars Danielle van der Donk and Jill Roord in what is a formidable-looking attacking line-up, while England international Jordan Nobbs has returned from a cruciate ligament injury which kept her out for much of the title-winning campaign and could make her first start since November. Katrine Veje misses out with an ankle problem, while Danielle Carter and Tabea Kemme are sidelined with knee complaints.

PREVIOUS MEETING

Although the teams were in separate divisions last year, we have faced Joe Montemurro’s side once previously, in the semi-final of the FA Women's Continental League Cup. On that night, Miedema’s double proved vital, helping the Gunners to a 2-1 victory despite Mollie Green’s late effort to halve the deficit.

Miedema is the Gunners' main threat in attack after scoring 31 goals in 28 games last season.

RIVALS WATCH

This is the final fixture of the second Women’s Super League matchweek, with the other games having taken place on Sunday. Here’s how they finished up:

SUNDAY 15 SEPTEMBER

Brighton & Hove Albion Women 1-1 Chelsea Women

Everton Ladies 2-0 Bristol City Women

Reading Women 0-2 Manchester City Women

Tottenham Hotspur Women 1-0 Liverpool Women

West Ham United Women 1-0 Birmingham City Women

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