Albion will be looking for the victory that would secure WSL safety on Wednesday when they entertain Arsenal at the Broadfield Stadium, kick off 7.30pm.
Sunday’s 1-0 win over West Ham lifted Albion five points clear of the relegation place currently occupied by Reading, and this is our game in hand.
Arsenal face Manchester United at Wembley on Sunday but will be focusing on trying to stay in the title race. They are nine points below leaders Manchester United with four games to go but they have two games in hand.
Form Guide
Albion kept their first WSL clean sheet since March 2022 in Sunday’s 1-0 over West Ham to make it seven points out of 12 under head coach Melissa Phillips.
Arsenal were knocked out of the Champions League last week when they conceded a last-minute goal in extra time to lose 3-2 to Wolfsburg. But they bounced back on Friday with a 1-0 victory over Leicester to keep their title hope alive.
View from the bench
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Head coach Melissa Phillips said, “We were over the moon to get three points and keep a clean sheet on Sunday. We grew into the game and managed the second half incredibly well after scoring, there is a lot to build on.
“There is still a job to do in the last three games but we have a hungry, hardworking, humble group who are hungry for the next opportunity to take points. We take pride in trying to make every game competitive and we’ll be looking to give the best version of ourselves against Arsenal.”
Team news
Goalkeeper Lydia Williams (ankle) pulled out in the warm-up prior to the West Ham game and Phillips said her fitness was being assessed.
Player to watch
STINA BLACKSTENIUS GIVES ARSENAL THE LEAD ❤️#UWCL LIVE NOW
— DAZN Football (@DAZNFootball) May 1, 2023
🇬🇧 https://t.co/KODI5SW6Zn
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With Beth Mead and Vivianne Miedema both recovering from knee surgery, Arsenal’s goalscoring burden is being led by Stina Blackstenius, who has four goals this season. The 26-year-old Swedish striker, who has won more than 80 international caps, played for three Swedish clubs and Montpellier before heading to Arsenal a year ago. Blackstenius has scored six League goals in two previous meetings against Albion, including the 4-0 win at Meadow Park in September.
Stats and facts
Albion have lost all nine of their Barclays WSL matches against Arsenal, scoring two goals and conceding 32 in these games. Only Everton against Man City (13 games, 13 defeats) have faced an opponent as many as 10 times and never picked up a single point in the Barclays WSL.
Arsenal have won all four of their away Barclays WSL games against Brighton, keeping a clean sheet in every victory while scoring 16 times themselves. No side has ever played away against another five times in the WSL without conceding a goal.