Arsenal return to action for the first time in 2021 with a visit to The Madejski Stadium to face Reading on Sunday.
Last weekend’s fixture against Aston Villa was postponed due to one positive COVID-19 test with a host of other players having to self-isolate on health and safety grounds.
Reading on the other hand are looking to bounce back from a 5-0 home defeat to Chelsea where former Royal Fran Kirby dominated the proceedings, completing a perfect hat-trick on her way to netting four goals.
Earlier this week, Reading boss Kelly Chambers spoke of her disappointment in her side’s abandonment of their philosophy and physicality against Chelsea. She’ll be hoping for a return of this against Arsenal as The Royals aim to record their first Barclays FA Women’s Super League victory over The Gunners.
Reading will continue to be without Brooke Chaplen with Chambers stating she has suffered another setback and won’t be seeing a return to the squad anytime soon. The Reading boss will be pleased with how Jess Fishlock has returned from long-term injury. This week, Fishlock was nominated for December’s PFA Fans’ Player of the Month award with the Welsh international having had a direct hand in four of Reading’s last six goals in the Barclays FA Women’s Super League .
Arsenal go into this weekend’s game having lost each of their last two Barclays FA Women’s Super League matches away from home. Head coach Joe Montemurro will be demanding a victory in order to put last week’s off-field events behind them and to avoid creating an unwanted record by losing three successive away games. The Arsenal squad has been bolstered by Anna Patten’s return to the club following a stint playing in the United States while all of the players who have been in self-isolation are available for selection. Swiss pair Noelle Maritz and Lia Walti have returned to full training following injury and could make the matchday squad but Viktoria Schnaderbeck and Steph Catley are out.
Reading’s Barclays FA Women’s Super League fixture against Arsenal at The Madejski Stadium kicks-off at 2pm on Sunday afternoon and will be broadcast live on the FA Player.
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