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Image by Manchester City Women (@ManCityWomen)
Words by Joe Heaton (@JoeHeaton32)
Manchester City have endured a perfect start to 2022 and look to take that form into the toughest matchup of the year when league leaders Arsenal visit the Blues.
Four straight wins all in competitions for City since the turn of the year including 5-0 and 6-0 victories over Leicester and Brighton has led to slight optimism over where the season can take them. They sit six points behind Arsenal at the summit of the table with the Gunners on the back of three straight defeats in three separate competitions and a shock 2-0 loss away at Birmingham in their last league game.
City will be after revenge after the harrowing 5-0 defeat at the hands of Arsenal in September during Gareth Taylor’s sides disappointing start to the season. A brace from Arsenal captain Kim Little and goals from Miedema, McCabe and Williamson wrapped up a sensational evening.
This encounter will be the first Women’s Super League home game for City since November due to Covid postponements and rearranged fixtures. The Blues’ record so far on home soil reads one victory and three defeats which is something they will have to improve upon if they want to push towards the top three before the end of the campaign.
Khiara Keating is expected to remain in between the sticks for the fourth consecutive game and she has impressed so far, only conceding one goal when Bristol City took the lead during the week in a League Cup tie that Manchester City went on to win 3-1. The 17 year old knows that this will be the toughest opponent she has faced so far with the firepower Arsenal possess.
It will be a new look Arsenal with three new signings expected to feature with the deals completed during the week. Laura Wienroither, Rafaelle Souza and Stina Blackstenius have all come into the side bolstering both of the Gunners’ attacking and defensive options. With Vivianne Miedema’s contract up in the summer, it could be the start of a new frontline with Swedish international Blackstenius bringing real pedigree on both club and national level over to the WSL.
City have also done some business off the field recently with new deals for Esme Morgan, Lauren Hemp and Steph Houghton all finalised with the club looking to cement their key players for years to come.
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