Arsenal W vs Everton W: FA WSL Clash at Emirates Stadium

Emirates Stadium hosts a meeting of contrasting ambitions on 13 May 2026 as third‑placed Arsenal W welcome Everton W in the FA WSL. With Champions League qualification firmly in their sights, Arsenal arrive as one of the division’s form teams, while Everton sit eighth and are still looking to put distance between themselves and the lower half after an inconsistent campaign.

Context and stakes

In the league, Arsenal W are 3rd with 45 points from 20 matches, boasting a goal difference of +36 (49 scored, 13 conceded). Their position is backed up by excellent recent form: “WDWWW” in the table, and a broader season pattern of sustained consistency across all phases.

Everton W, by contrast, are 8th on 20 points with a goal difference of -12 (24 scored, 36 conceded). Their form line of “LLLWW” underlines a streaky side capable of stringing wins together but also prone to runs of defeats. With 12 losses in 20 league games, they come into London as clear underdogs.

Arsenal W: High‑powered attack, controlled structure

Across all phases, Arsenal’s numbers underline why they are in Champions League contention. They have won 13 of 20 league matches, losing just once. At home they are unbeaten: 7 wins and 3 draws from 10, scoring 27 and conceding only 6. An average of 2.7 goals for and 0.6 against per home game paints the picture of a team that dominates territory and chances at Emirates Stadium.

Defensively, 10 clean sheets overall (5 at home, 5 away) and only 13 goals conceded show a structure that is hard to break down. Their biggest home win is 7-0, and they have never lost at home this season; the heaviest defeat anywhere, 3-2 away, came on the road. That home resilience is a central pillar of the tactical narrative here: Arsenal can afford to be aggressive in possession knowing their back line and defensive midfield are usually secure.

In terms of shape, Arsenal’s preferred system is a 4-2-3-1 (used 9 times), with occasional switches to 4-4-2, 4-3-3 or 4-1-4-1. The 4-2-3-1 allows them to field multiple creative and goalscoring threats behind a central striker, and the data on key players supports that approach.

Alessia Russo is the headline figure in attack. With 6 league goals and 2 assists in 19 appearances, she is Arsenal’s top scorer in this dataset. Her 32 shots (22 on target) and a strong average rating of 7.45 underline a centre‑forward who both finishes and links play. She also contributes off the ball, with 11 tackles and 7 interceptions, fitting well into a pressing game from the front.

Stina Blackstenius offers a potent alternative or partner. She has 5 goals and 2 assists in 18 appearances despite starting only 7 times, suggesting a dangerous impact option. Her 26 shots and 8 key passes in limited minutes (467) make her a likely weapon either from the bench or in a two‑striker variant like the 4-4-2 that Arsenal have used.

From midfield, Olivia Smith provides both goals and creativity. With 4 goals and 2 assists, plus 19 key passes and 19 tackles, she embodies the modern two‑way midfielder: able to arrive in the box but also contribute to the press and ball recovery. Her duel numbers (93 total, 51 won) show that she holds her own physically despite her smaller stature.

Out wide or in advanced roles, Chloe Kelly adds another layer of threat. She has 4 goals and 1 assist in just 299 minutes, an outstanding goals‑per‑minute return. With 11 shots and 5 key passes, she can stretch defences and attack full‑backs one‑v‑one, and her 4 yellow cards hint at an aggressive edge in duels and counter‑pressing.

Arsenal’s penalty record at team level shows 1 scored from 1, with no misses; none of the listed key attackers has taken or missed a penalty in the league data, so any spot‑kick responsibility could be shared among the attacking group.

Everton W: Resilient away, but fragile overall

Everton’s overall record (6 wins, 2 draws, 12 defeats) is modest, but their away form is notably stronger than at home. On the road they have 4 wins, 2 draws and 4 losses from 10 matches, scoring 14 and conceding 14. That balance suggests they are more comfortable playing reactively, sitting deeper and countering rather than trying to dictate.

At home, by contrast, they have lost 8 of 10, with a 10‑22 goal record. Those numbers reinforce the idea that this Everton side is set up better to spoil and break away than to dominate possession. Their heaviest away defeat (3-1) is relatively contained, and their best away win (1-4) shows they can be ruthless when space opens up.

Tactically, Everton have mostly used a 4-4-2 (8 times), with 4-2-3-1 and 4-1-4-1 also appearing. Against a possession‑heavy side like Arsenal, a compact 4-4-2 block or a 4-1-4-1 could be expected, focusing on closing central lanes and forcing Arsenal wide, then breaking quickly.

Honoka Hayashi stands out as a key figure. With 4 league goals from midfield, she is Everton’s leading scorer in this dataset. Her 335 passes at 86% accuracy and 11 tackles plus 11 interceptions indicate a player who both progresses the ball and helps shield the defence. In a game where Everton will likely have less of the ball, her ability to use it efficiently and arrive in advanced areas could be crucial to any upset hopes.

Everton have scored 24 goals in 20 league matches (1.2 per game) while conceding 36 (1.8 per game). They have kept just 3 clean sheets across all phases. Those figures suggest that, even if they manage to frustrate Arsenal for periods, sustaining defensive concentration for 90 minutes at Emirates Stadium will be a serious challenge.

Like Arsenal, Everton’s team penalty data shows 1 scored from 1, with no misses, and there are no individual penalty attempts or misses listed for Hayashi in this competition.

Head‑to‑head: Arsenal dominance with caveats

The last five competitive meetings between these sides, all in the FA WSL, show Arsenal W with a clear edge:

• On 13 December 2025 at Goodison Park, Everton W 1-3 Arsenal W – Arsenal won.
• On 14 March 2025 at Walton Hall Park, Everton W 1-3 Arsenal W – Arsenal won.
• On 6 October 2024 at Emirates Stadium, Arsenal W 0-0 Everton W – draw.
• On 28 April 2024 at Walton Hall Park, Everton W 1-1 Arsenal W – draw.
• On 20 January 2024 at Meadow Park, Arsenal W 2-1 Everton W – Arsenal won.

Over these five matches, Arsenal W have 3 wins, Everton W have 0, and there have been 2 draws. Notably, Everton have taken points in their last two trips to face Arsenal (0-0 at Emirates Stadium and 1-1 at Walton Hall Park as hosts, but the 0-0 is the relevant away result), which will give them some belief that they can frustrate the hosts again.

Tactical balance and likely patterns

Given Arsenal’s home numbers and attacking depth, they are likely to dominate possession and territory, building through their 4-2-3-1 with Russo as a focal point, supported by the likes of Smith and Kelly between the lines and in wide areas. Their defensive record suggests they can hold a relatively high line, compressing play and keeping Everton penned in.

Everton, stronger away than at home, are well suited to a counter‑attacking brief. A compact mid‑block in 4-4-2 or 4-1-4-1, with Hayashi tasked with linking transitions, is the logical approach. Their balanced away goals for and against (14-14) show they can both score and keep things relatively tight on the road, but they have not yet faced many attacks as prolific and efficient as Arsenal’s home unit.

Discipline could also matter. Arsenal’s yellow card distribution is spread across the game, with a slight spike late on (5 yellows between 76-90 minutes), while Everton pick up a high share of bookings between 46-90 minutes. If Everton spend long spells defending, late fouls and potential bookings could invite dangerous set‑piece situations for Arsenal.

The verdict

All the core indicators point towards Arsenal W as strong favourites. They are unbeaten at home, boast one of the league’s best attacks and defences, and have a commanding recent head‑to‑head record over Everton W. The visitors’ improved away form and past draws in this fixture show that an upset or a stubborn resistance is possible, but the balance of evidence suggests Arsenal’s quality, depth and structure should tell over 90 minutes at Emirates Stadium.

Expect Everton to be organised and competitive, especially early on, but Arsenal’s sustained pressure and variety of attacking options make a home win the most logical outcome.