Arsenal v Manchester United: Women’s Super League – live | Women’s Super League

4 minutes: Arsenal attack down the left and Stina Blackstenius sends a cross into the penalty area, trying to spot Beth Mead. It’s intercepted and Manchester United clears.

3 minutes: Hannah Blundell tries to play the ball forward from United’s left-back position but her effort is blocked and put in touch by Beth Mead.

2 minutes : Arsenal win a free kick deep in their own half and Steph Catley sends the ball forward. He eventually finds himself at the feet of United goalkeeper and European champion Mary Earps.

1 minute: After an impeccably observed minute of silence, the game kicked off with Arsenal opening the ball. Their players wear red shirts, white shorts and red socks. Manchester United players wear lime green shirts, black shorts and lime green socks.

Not long now: Both teams head to the Emirates sward, led by referee Kirsty Dowle and her team of match officials. Kick-off is minutes away but first we’ll have the presentation of some poppy wreaths by managers Jonas Eidevall and Marc Skinner, followed by a belated minute’s silence for the dead. Remembrance Day was last Sunday but there has been no WSL action for a fortnight.

Elsewhere in the WSL: In today’s other match, Manchester City beat Everton by the odd three-goal at Walton Hall Park. Julie Blaksted and Bunny Shaw scored the goals for City, either side of a Rikke Sevecke strike for Everton. City remain in fourth place, six points clear of Tottenham who have played two fewer games. Everton remain seventh.

These teams: Jonas Eidevall names a squad unchanged since the 4-0 win over Leicester last time out. Vivienne Miedema is on the bench after returning from leave.

Manchester United manager Marc Skinner is making a change. Ona Batlle is at left-back, with Maria Thorisdottir falling to the bench.

Arsenal: Zinsberger; Wienroither, Mubben-Woy, Catley, McCabe; Walti, Nobbs, Maanum; Mead, Foord, Blackstenius.

Subtitles: Marckese, Beattie, Maritz, Reid, Miedema, Iwabuchi, Earl, Agyemang.

Manchester United : Ears ; Batlle, Le Tissier, Turner, Blundell; Ladd, Zelem; Parris, Toone, Galton; Russian.

submarines: Baggaley, Thorisdottir, Tounkara, Boe Risa, Moore, Staniforth, L. Garcia, Thomas, Williams.

Marc Skinner speaks: “They are a very good team and we had two very good performances against them last season,” the Manchester United manager said. “It’s a different venue, with lots and lots of fans, so I expect a different game to what we played last year, but I still want to see that continued growth in our team.

“I want us to produce this in the moments that really matter. This is the next step for us, to consistently perform as well as possible in these types of games. You have to win everything against Arsenal because they are a very good team.

Jonas Eidevell speaks: “He’s a very tough opponent. Manchester United have had a great start to the season, the Arsenal manager said in his pre-match press conference. “Where they fell a bit behind last season was basically in the fall.

“I think they were a really, really strong team in the spring in the league, and they added players that made their team a little bit deeper, and they kept a lot of continuity in the way they played. Those things are usually equate to success, so that doesn’t surprise me.

Arsenal players Rafaelle Souza, Lina Hurtig, Kim Little, Leah Williamson and Teyah Goldie are all injured, although Jordan Nobbs and Lotte Wubben-Moy are both available for selection despite picking up knocks while serving in England. Vivienne Miedema is also back following a leave granted by the club before the international break.

Manchester United defender Aoife Mannion is back in training as she speeds up her recovery from the ACL injury she suffered in January, but is extremely unlikely to feature in the squad before the new year. “Aoife still won’t be ready [to play until] after Christmas, I imagine, but she is progressing well,” United manager Marc Skinner said. “She’s in training with the team, albeit slightly modified. But yes she is progressing well so hopefully after Christmas [she’ll be back].” Aside from Mannion, Skinner has a full team to choose from.

A crowd of over 35,000 is expected in the Emirates for tonight’s crucial game between league leaders Arsenal and Manchester United, who sit third but will be level on points with their hosts if they win.

Sandwiched between the two teams, behind Arsenal on goal difference having played one more game, Chelsea will host Tottenham tomorrow lunchtime. Kick-off in North London is at 5.30pm (GMT), but stay tuned in the meantime for team news and the build-up.