Match Preview: Arsenal V West Ham

✍️Lydia Tucker

West Ham travel to Meadow Park for a 17:30 kick off against London Rivals, Arsenal, for Women’s Super League Matchday 15.

📸via Mariona Caldentey on Instagram

Last time in this fixture:

In October 2024 , Arsenal visited the Chigwell Construction Stadium and came away with 2-0 win over West Ham, with a 71st minute penalty from Mariona Caldentey and a final goal from Swedish  substitute Rosa Kafaji.

Although in past meetings Arsenal usually come out victorious, West Ham haven’t failed to put up a fight for the win. This resulted in a strong 2-1 win in the 23/24 WSL season.

Arsenal may have scored first, due to Alessia Russo strike in the first-half however, following a 50th minute penalty, West Ham fought relentlessly for a winner.

Thus ultimately leading to a 58th minute winner from Hawa Cissoko - who is now playing in Serie A for AS Roma.

So, who will come out victorious this time ?

How have the home side kicked off their season?

Arsenal currently sit third in the WSL table having played 14 games and won nine, drawn three and lost two.

They managed to make it to the semi-final of the women’s league cup in early February, but got knocked out due to a 2-1 defeat by Manchester City.

However, this hasn’t stopped them as they are due to play Liverpool in the Women’s FA Cup semi-final and they face Real Madrid in the UEFA women’s champions league quarter-finals in the coming weeks.

How have the away side played in the first block of the season?

West Ham currently sit eighth in the WSL with 14 points after 14 games; they have won four, drawn two, and lost eight.

West Ham have won their last two home league games but faced a few heavy defeats in between. Including a 5-0 defeat against Liverpool in the women’s FA cup fourth round.

Despite this loss and not having the strongest start in the league, West Ham made it to the Women’s League Cup semi-final having defeated Tottenham 2-1 but unfortunately got knocked out by Chelsea in the semi-final.

Overview:

Overall both teams have had quite different starts to the season, with Arsenal currently sitting in a Champions League position and West Ham continuously being at the bottom of the table.

However, we have seen both sides come out victorious in this fixture, Arsenal more often than West Ham, but West Ham have been playing some very exciting football recently.

So what will it take for Rehanne Skinner’s side to defeat Renee Slegers’ Arsenal ?