Arsenal play their first Women’s Super League game of the season at Emirates Stadium on Sunday when Crystal Palace arrive in North London after making an immediate impact on their return to the top flight.
Renée Slegers’ side began their title challenge with a 1–0 victory away to Brighton, where 19-year-old Lisa Baum scored the winner on her WSL debut. Palace also started with three points, beating Everton 1–0 through a first-half goal from Lexi Lloyd-Smith.
That makes Sunday’s meeting an early test of Arsenal’s ability to break down a Palace side that showed in their opening game that they are capable of competing at this level.
Arsenal vs Crystal Palace match information
Competition: Women’s Super League
Date: Sunday, 13 September 2026
Kick-off: 14:45 BST / 15:45 CEST
Venue: Emirates Stadium
TV: BBC
How to watch Arsenal vs Crystal Palace
Arsenal against Crystal Palace will be shown live by the BBC in the UK.
The match kicks off at 14:45 BST, which is 15:45 CEST in the Netherlands and much of central Europe. If you are watching from outside the UK, Barclays WSL YouTube is your best bet or W-sport.
For the complete Matchweek 2 schedule and broadcast information, see our Where to Watch the Women’s Super League 2026/27 guide.
Arsenal team news
Arsenal head coach Renée Slegers confirmed on Friday that her squad came through the opening victory over Brighton without any new injury problems. Michelle Agyemang, Katie Reid and Daphne van Domselaar remain unavailable, but otherwise Arsenal have a large group to choose from.
Deadline-day signing Élisa De Almeida is available for selection and could make her Arsenal debut after completing her move from Paris Saint-Germain. That leaves Slegers with significant competition for places.
Misa Rodríguez started in goal against Brighton and kept a clean sheet on her WSL debut, with Emily Fox, Leah Williamson, Steph Catley and Ona Batlle forming the back four.
Georgia Stanway also made her league debut for Arsenal alongside captain Kim Little, while Mariona Caldentey played ahead of them.
Baum provided the decisive moment in attack. The summer signing from RB Leipzig created space inside the Brighton penalty area before firing in the only goal after 10 minutes.
Olivia Smith and Alessia Russo completed the starting attack, but Slegers was able to introduce Caitlin Foord, Chloe Kelly and Stina Blackstenius from the bench.
With Arsenal facing three different opponents in Brighton, Palace and Manchester United at the start of the season, Slegers acknowledged that selection can be tailored to the opposition.
That could lead to changes for Sunday’s home opener, although the performance and clean sheet at Brighton give her little reason to alter the defensive structure significantly.
Predicted Arsenal XI:
Misa Rodríguez; Fox, Williamson, Catley, Batlle; Little, Stanway; Mariona; Baum, Russo, Smith.
Crystal Palace team news
Palace manager Jo Potter says her squad is in a positive position following the victory over Everton, although there are some late fitness decisions to make.
Potter revealed that “one or two” players have niggles and Palace will give them as much time as possible before deciding whether they can feature at the Emirates. That means Palace’s predicted XI is best based primarily on the team that defeated Everton rather than speculating over potential absences.
Pauline Peyraud-Magnin started in goal, with Josie Napier, captain Annabel Everett, Molly Bartrip and Teyah Goldie forming the defensive unit.
Shanade Hopcroft and Fūka Tsunoda started in midfield alongside Sinead O’Brien, while Anaïs Blanchard, Lloyd-Smith and Bethany England provided the attacking threat.
Lloyd-Smith made the decisive contribution, scoring after 34 minutes on her Palace debut.
England also impressed despite not getting on the scoresheet. The experienced striker led the line and made an important defensive contribution by clearing an Everton opportunity off the line.
Potter highlighted England’s influence after the game, particularly the example she can provide to the younger players in Palace’s squad.
Predicted Crystal Palace XI:
Peyraud-Magnin; Napier, Everett, Bartrip, Goldie; Hopcroft, Tsunoda, O’Brien; Blanchard, Lloyd-Smith; England.
Palace’s defensive discipline faces a much bigger test
Palace’s opening victory changes the context of this game. Potter’s side demonstrated against Everton that they can defend a lead and make themselves difficult to break down. At the Emirates, however, they should expect to spend considerably longer without possession.
Potter has already acknowledged that reality. Palace will need to be comfortable defending for extended periods while looking for opportunities to hurt Arsenal when possession changes hands. England provides an experienced focal point, while Lloyd-Smith’s opening-weekend performance showed the threat Palace can carry alongside her.
For Arsenal, patience could therefore be important. Slegers’ team dominated much of their opening game against Brighton without turning that control into a comfortable scoreline. Baum’s excellent early finish ultimately separated the teams, while Misa was required to make important interventions to preserve the clean sheet.
Arsenal have enough attacking options to approach Palace in several different ways. Foord, Kelly and Blackstenius all came from the bench at Brighton, while Slegers also has the possibility of changing the midfield or introducing De Almeida in defence.
The challenge is turning that squad depth into greater attacking efficiency. Palace have already shown that promoted teams cannot simply be treated as straightforward points this season. Birmingham caused Manchester City problems for a half on opening weekend, while Palace went one better by beating Everton.
Slegers acknowledged that increased competitiveness ahead of Sunday’s game, describing the growth in the standard of the league as a positive development.
Arsenal’s first WSL game back at the Emirates
Sunday also marks Arsenal’s first league game at Emirates Stadium this season. Slegers wants Arsenal to continue using the relationship between the team and their home support as an advantage, with the head coach highlighting the atmosphere the players and supporters have created together at the stadium.
Crystal Palace therefore face a significantly different environment from their opening home victory.
For Arsenal, it is an opportunity to follow a professional away win with a more authoritative attacking performance in front of their own supporters.
Arsenal vs Crystal Palace prediction
Crystal Palace deserve considerably more respect after their opening victory than the newly promoted label alone might suggest.
England gives them experience at centre-forward, Lloyd-Smith has already shown she can make an impact at WSL level and Potter appears comfortable setting her team up to operate without the ball for long spells.
Arsenal should nevertheless have too much attacking depth. Slegers can change the game from the bench if Palace frustrate her starting XI, and another strong defensive performance should limit the opportunities available to the visitors.
Prediction: Arsenal 3–0 Crystal Palace
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