Arsenal Women return to the Emirates Stadium on Sunday looking to make it two victories from two in the Women’s Super League.
Renée Slegers’ side opened their campaign with a 1-0 victory away to Brighton, where Lisa Baum marked her league debut with the winning goal.
Attention now turns to Crystal Palace and the first home league game of the season.
ReadArsenal’s full Arsenal Women vs Crystal Palace preview looks at the challenge facing Slegers’ side after Palace also began their season with a victory.
The Arsenal manager nevertheless has several difficult selection calls to make.
Arsenal Women team news vs Crystal Palace
Slegers has confirmed Arsenal came through the Brighton victory without any fresh injury concerns.
Daphne van Domselaar, Katie Reid and Michelle Agyemang remain unavailable, but deadline-day signing Élisa De Almeida can now be selected after completing a full week of training.
The France international was not involved at Brighton after arriving from Paris Saint-Germain shortly before the opening fixture.
ReadArsenal previously looked at why Arsenal moved for De Almeida before the transfer deadline, with her arrival adding another experienced option to Slegers’ defence.
However, an immediate start may have to wait.
Arsenal kept a clean sheet at Brighton with Leah Williamson partnering Steph Catley in central defence, while Emily Fox and Ona Batlle occupied the full-back positions.
Lisa Baum deserves another Arsenal start
The biggest competition may instead come further forward.
Baum justified her selection against Brighton with a superb individual winner and should retain her place on the right.
Slegers praised the 19-year-old’s maturity and readiness after handing her a competitive debut, while Arsenal’s opening-day XI also included Olivia Smith on the opposite flank and Alessia Russo through the middle.
That leaves Chloe Kelly, Caitlin Foord and Stina Blackstenius among the high-quality options attempting to force their way into the team.
For now, though, there is little reason to move away from the attacking combination which earned three points at Brighton.
Georgia Stanway and captain Kim Little should continue at the base of midfield, with Mariona Caldentey operating ahead of them.
Arsenal Women predicted XI vs Crystal Palace
Misa Rodríguez
Emily Fox — Leah Williamson — Steph Catley — Ona Batlle
Georgia Stanway — Kim Little
Lisa Baum — Mariona Caldentey — Olivia Smith
Alessia Russo
That would mean an unchanged starting XI from the team confirmed in ReadArsenal’s Arsenal Women lineup against Brighton.
De Almeida should be in contention for a place among the substitutes, while Kelly, Foord and Blackstenius give Slegers considerable attacking firepower if Arsenal need to change the game.
Crystal Palace should provide a stern test after winning 1-0 at Everton on the opening weekend, but Arsenal will be expected to impose themselves at the Emirates.
The game kicks off at 2.45pm BST, with ReadArsenal’s Arsenal Women vs Crystal Palace TV and live-stream guide providing the full broadcast details.
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