Arsenal vs London City Lionesses: WSL preview, predictions, team news and TV info

Arsenal beat London City Lionesses home and away last season, prevailing 4-1 at the Emirates and 2-0 at Hayes Lane, but are expecting a significantly tougher test this time. So, ahead of this pivotal Women's Super League clash, check out our preview, predictions, team news and TV info.

Date: Sunday 15 November 2026.

Kick off times: 4:30pm (local) & 11:30am (ET)

Competition: Barclays Women's Super League

Venue: Emirates Stadium - North London,

How to watch: Sky Sports (UK) and CBS Sports (USA).

Arsenal continue to impress in the Champions League, so can they carry their European form into picking up much-needed WSL wins? On Thursday night, Renée Slegers' side earned a famous point at Camp Nou, holding Barça Femení to a 1-1 draw. Frida Maanum breaking the deadlock and, while Barcelona had countless chances, Arsenal were well worth the point they picked up.

This leaves the Gunners fourth in the Champions League table, yet to taste defeat, seeking an automatic quarter-final spot, with OL Lyonnes and Inter Milan their final two opponents.

Domestically though, Arsenal's season has been nothing short of disastrous. Slegers' side sit sixth, 12 points below the leaders, having won just three of nine fixtures to date. One of these wins did come last Sunday, with Alessia Russo at the double to defeat Liverpool at Anfield.

Nevertheless, loses against the top two Man City and Chelsea, as well as draws in all four home matches, leaves Arsenal out of the title race and simply chasing down third place. So, after an energy-sapping night in Catalonia, can the Gunners claim a vital first home win of the WSL season?

This game is especially crucial because it is London City Lionesses who are the current occupants of that final Champions League spot. Owner Michele Kang has made it clear that here intention is to disrupt the established order and, well, a win here would represent a huge step towards European qualification.

Last weekend, Eder Maestre's team smashed Birmingham City 4-1 at Hayes Lane, with Poppy Pattinson, Delphine Cascarino, Grace Geyoro and then Kadidiatou Diani the scorers in South London.

Before that, London City Lionesses had failed to win back-to-back games, held to a draw by Liverpool in St Helens, before a narrow 2-1 defeat against Man City. Nevertheless, having won four in a row beforehand, with Arsenal struggling for consistency, a top three three finish is there for the taking.

So, can the Gunners climb to within just six points of London City, or will the visitors move a surely insurmountable nine points clear of their hosts with victory at the Emirates?

Renée Slegers remains without Mariona Caldentey, Selina Cerci and Chloe Kelly, while Stina Blackstenius is now sidelined too, nursing an achilles issue.

Misa Rodríguez's impressive display at Camp Nou underlined her number one status while, if Slegers feels like she needs to freshen up here lineup, Kyra Cooney-Cross, Smilla Holmberg, Ona Batlle and Olivia Smith could come in.

In contrast, Eder Maestre's team have had a week to prepare for this huge game, which has to be a massive advantage. Alanna Kennedy, captain Kosovare Asllani, Malou Marcetto Rylov, Lucía Corrales and Isa Kardinaal are all injured, but this team is still jam-packed full of quality.

Daniëlle van de Donk will face her former side, starting alongside three-time Ballon d'Or winner Alexia Putellas, while Kadidiatou Diani is their top scorer this season with four WSL goals.

Arsenal predicted lineup: Rodríguez; Fox, Williamson, Catley, Batlle; Cooney-Cross, Stanway, Maanum; Smith, Russo, Baum.

London City Lionesses predicted lineup: Earps; Fernández, Pérez, León, Pattinson; Geyoro, Arques, Cascarino, Putellas, van de Donk; Diani.

Score prediction: Arsenal 1-2 London City Lionesses.