Walton Hall Park Stadium, England 28th April 2024: Leah Williamson (6 Arsenal) during the Barclays Women Super League between Everton and Arsenal at Walton Hall Park Stadium in Liverpool, England 28th April 2024 | Photo: Jayde Chamberlain/SPP. Jayde Chamberlain/SPP (Jayde Chamberlain/SPP)
Leah Williamson has been named in the Arsenal starting line-up for the first time this season as the Gunners take on Crystal Palace in the quarter-finals of the Subway Women’s League Cup.
She also wears the captain’s armband in the absence of Kim Little, leading a team that has seven changes from their match in midweek against OH Leuven in the UEFA Women’s Champions League.
And head coach Renee Slegers welcomed Williamson’s return from injury, having got her first minutes back as a substitute against Everton last weekend.
“We got her back this block, which has meant a lot to us,” she said on the Barclays WSL YouTube channel ahead of the game. “She’s a fantastic footballer, of course, and a great leader for us, very intelligent on and off the pitch. We’re very happy to have her back.”
“Arsenal are excited to play our last game of the year”
On the prospect of playing Palace after the Champions League match on Wednesday, she said: “There has been a lot of short turnarounds for us, five games this block. We’re four [games] down and we’re happy with the four results, but we’re not done.
“They are on a good run, Crystal Palace, we respect them for who they are. We’ve been preparing [as if] for any other game for this game. We’re excited to play our last game for the year.”
Both Arsenal and Palace are on a five-match win streak.
And asked how the team would set up to nullify Palace’s attacking game, Slegers replied: “We have to play off our own strengths. What we’re good at we want to bring to the game, but it’s always a dance between two teams and if that’s what they want to do, we have to find our own strengths to counter that, and so we’re prepared.
“Let’s see what they do. We know the type of game they usually play, let’s see what they do today.”
Arsenal: Their line-up against Crystal Palace
Only Anneke Borbe, Katie McCabe, Kyra Cooney-Cross and Olivia Smith retain their places from midweek.
Team: Anneke Borbe, Emily Fox, Leah Williamson (c), Laia Codina, Katie McCabe, Kyra Cooney-Cross, Victoria Pelova, Frida Maanum, Olivia Smith, Caitlin Foord, Stina Blackstenius.
Substitutes: Amy Liddiard, Lotte Wubben-Moy, Steph Catley, Taylor Hinds, Sophie Harwood, Mariona Caldentey, Kim Little, Beth Mead, Alessia Russo.
