West Ham take on Arsenal in WSL title decider
By Tom Chambers
West Ham host Arsenal in The Hammers’ last match of the WSL season
West Ham
Olli Harder’s team comes into this match off the back of their 3-0 loss to Manchester United last Sunday. The Hammers never really managed to get a foothold in the match and seemed to be outfought and outplayed all over the pitch.
West Ham have enjoyed a successful campaign, underlined by the fact they have set a new club record for points in a WSL season. A victory over Arsenal could see The Hammers rise above Tottenham Hotspur to finish fifth in the table.
Olli Harder will definitely be without injury absentees Maisy Barker and Anna Leat for the match against Arsenal. Emma Snerle, Lucy Parker and, club captain, Gilly Flaherty all missed the last match and it is unclear if they will be fit enough to return for the last match of the season.
Arsenal
Arsenal are currently four points behind league leaders Chelsea with one game in hand. If the Gunners beat rivals Tottenham Hotspur in the re-arranged North London derby on Wednesday evening, they will take the title race to the final day of the season.
Arsenal flew out of the blocks at the beginning of the campaign, winning eight out of their first nine league games. However, a poor run of results at the start of the new year, including an extraordinary defeat to bottom of the table Birmingham City handed the initiative to Emma Hayes’ Chelsea. Jonas Eidevall’s side have been waiting in vain for the Blues to slip up ever since.
This weekend’s match may be Vivianne Miedema’s last appearance for the Gunners. The WSL’s all-time top scorer looks set to resist the club’s offer of a new contract and leave the club when her current deal expires in the summer.
Last match between the two teams
Arsenal registered a comprehensive 4-0 victory when the teams last met in the league back in November. Kim Little scored twice in the first half before Beth Mead and a late own goal by Grace Fisk extended The Gunners’ lead.
Player to watch – Vivianne Miedema
Miedema is one of the world’s best footballers, she has scored more goals for the Netherlands than any other player across both the men’s and women’s teams. The 25-year-old is the all-time leading scorer in the WSL with 64 goals.
Miedema signed her first professional contract with Eredivisie side, SC Heervenveen, at the age of 14. She scored 10 goals in 17 appearances in her debut season. The prolific forward moved to Bayern Munich in 2014 before signing for Arsenal three years later.
The Arsenal forward has 12 goals and 6 assists for her club this season. She has lifted two league cups and one league title during her tie with the Gunners. However, Sunday’s game could prove to be her last for the club. Miedema’s contract with Arsenal is due to end this summer and it is widely expected that she will leave the club upon its expiry. Her next move is not clear at this stage, but a move to one of the top clubs in the world is a certainty. Barcelona, PSG, and Lyon are currently the favourites to secure her signature.
Predicted West Ham XI
Arnold, Fisk, Flaherty, Cissoko, Stringer, Hasegawa, Snerle, Brynjarsdottir, Svitkova, Walker, Leon
How to Watch
West Ham United FC Women vs Arsenal FC Women
Date: Sunday 8th May
Venue: Chigwell Construction Stadium
Kick-off Time: 12:00 PM (BST)
TV: BBC Two/BBC iPlayer
Streaming: FA Player/BBC Sport website