Chelsea Women vs Arsenal, WSL preview: Juggernauts collide

(EDITOR'S NOTE: COMPOSITE OF IMAGES - Image numbers 1384915869, 1309608755 - GRADIENT ADDED AND IMAGE 1384915869 REVERSED) A comparison between Arsenal Women Head Coach, Jonas Eidevall (L) and Emma Hayes, Manager of Chelsea (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images) /

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(EDITOR’S NOTE: COMPOSITE OF IMAGES – Image numbers 1384915869, 1309608755 – GRADIENT ADDED AND IMAGE 1384915869 REVERSED) A comparison between Arsenal Women Head Coach, Jonas Eidevall (L) and Emma Hayes, Manager of Chelsea (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images) /

Women’s football is back. After nearly three and a half weeks without competitive football for the Chelsea Women, Emma Hayes’ side returns to action against its greatest league rival. Jonas Eidevall and the Gunners have been ravaged with injuries to two of their top players this season, but with a game in hand just three points behind the Blues, Arsenal hopes this could be the match to deter a red-hot Chelsea. The Gunners will play at Emirates Stadium for the sixth time this season.

Leah Williamson and Arsenal have outscored their opposition 10 to five, dropping just one match in the WSL in the confines of the ninth-largest stadium in the United Kingdom. What better venue for the top-two teams in the English top flight to resume league play than an arena that seats over 60,000 people?

The attendance numbers would be through the roof given the layoff, the quality of the teams, and what is at stake on January 15. A win would put CFC on a clear path to its fourth straight league title, but if Arsenal somehow pulls off the upset, the Gunners would have to be considered in the driver’s seat of the WSL title race.

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