Key Highlights
- Arsenal travel to King Power Stadium for a match against Leicester City on Sunday at midday in the WSL.
- Renee Slegers reports that most players are fit but Katie Reid and Olivia Smith face late fitness checks.
- Leicester City have conceded only eight goals this season, creating very few opportunities themselves.
- The last time Arsenal faced Leicester was a 1-0 win at King Power Stadium in the previous season.
Arsenal Women Prepare for Key Match Against Leicester City Women
On Sunday, November 1, 2025, Arsenal Women will travel to the King Power Stadium to face Leicester City Women in a crucial match of the Women’s Super League (WSL). The fixture is part of an ongoing season that has seen both teams experience mixed results. As Arsenal seeks to regain their momentum after a challenging start, the focus remains on addressing recent performance issues and capitalizing on opportunities during matches.
Team News and Player Availability
Renee Slegers provided insights into the team’s preparation for the match. According to her, most players trained as expected, with notable absences due to injuries being reported. Key players such as Leah Williamson (knee injury) and Manu Zinsberger (ACL rupture) are out of action. Additionally, Katie Reid and Olivia Smith, who were away on international duty, face late fitness checks before the game.
Analysis of Leicester City Women’s Performance
The opposition team, Leicester City Women, has managed to keep a solid defensive record with only 8.3 expected goals (XG) conceded this season. However, their offensive output is limited, with just 2.6 XG created across six WSL games so far. This defensive solidity could pose significant challenges for Arsenal in maintaining possession and creating scoring opportunities.
Leicester’s French coach, Amandine Miquel, left the team during the summer transfer window to make way for Rick Passmor, a pragmatic coach who has guided Leicester to survive in midtable positions. Their identity as a defensive-minded side is expected to continue, making it difficult for Arsenal to break down their defenses.
Strategic Considerations and Player Focus
Arsenal Women need to focus on breaking down the stubborn opposition while managing the pace of the game strategically. Manager Renee Slegers emphasized the importance of capitalizing on moments when Leicester’s organization breaks down, as well as staying focused throughout the match. The challenge lies in maintaining a sense of comfort and flow that was previously absent.
Mariona Caldentey, currently ranked second in the WSL for key passes per 90 minutes, faces the task of operating more effectively closer to the opponent’s goal area where she can excel. This will require Arsenal to tweak their build-up play so that Mariona is not overly burdened with multiple roles.
Preparation and Matchday Strategy
The game at King Power Stadium on Sunday, November 1, 2025, will be broadcast live on Sky Sports in the UK. Fans can also follow updates from Arsenal Women’s official channels for match reports, podcasts, and tactical analyses post-match.
Slegers’ strategy involves respecting Leicester City’s strong defensive game while maintaining belief in Arsenal’s own qualities. By focusing on key moments, Arsenal aims to regain their earlier form where goals came easily during periods of momentum and flow.
