Arsenal welcome Brighton to Borehamwood on Thursday evening in a rescheduled WSL fixture.
The Gunners currently top the WSL but have endured a tough start to 2022, suffering a shock defeat to Birmingham, crashing out of the Continental Cup and needing a last-gasp Tobin Heath goal to rescue a point against Manchester City.
Brighton have also suffered a slump in form following their flying start to the season, and are without a win or goal in their last five league outings – although they did hold champions Chelsea to a 0-0 draw last time out.
Here’s everything you need to know about Sunday’s game.
When is kick off? Thursday 27 January, 19:30 (GMT)
Where is the match being played? Borehamwood
TV channel/live stream? Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Premier League
Australian trio Lydia Williams, Steph Catley and Caitlin Foord and Japanese international Mana Iwabuchi remain unavailable for Arsenal due to their involvement at the Asia Cup.
Malin Gut is a long-term injury absentee for the Gunners, while Katie McCabe misses out through suspension having picked up her fifth yellow card of the season against Manchester City on Sunday. The absence of both McCabe and Catley could result in Arsenal fielding a somewhat makeshift back four.
Leah Williamson made her return to the first-team fold against City following a two-month injury layoff but was replaced at half-time, with Jonas Eidevall explaining that the centre-back is not yet ready to play a full 90 minutes. Brazilian Rafaelle could make her full Gunners debut in place of Williamson at the back should Eidevall not wish to rush the England international back.
Brighton continue to be without Lee Guem-min, who is away at the Asia Cup with South Korea.
Should Hope Powell name an unchanged team from the side that held Chelsea last time out, this will mean a return to Borehamwood for Arsenal fan favourite Dan Carter. The striker spent 11 years with the Gunners prior to joining Reading in 2020.
Arsenal: Zinsberger; Wienroither, Wubben-Moy, Rafaelle, Maritz; Little, Nobbs, Maanum; Mead, Miedema, Parris
Brighton: Walsh; Kullberg, Williams, Kerkdijk; Le Tissier, Whelan, Connolly, Koivisto; Green, Carter, Kaagman
Arsenal have found goals hard to come by of late, and will come up against a defensively well-drilled Brighton side and a goalkeeper in Megan Walsh who has been one of the WSL’s standout performers this campaign.
However, the Gunners will be expected to have too much class for the Seagulls and get their first three points of the year on the board.
Score prediction: Arsenal 2-0 Brighton