Between the Conti Cup final, the international break and this weekend’s FA Cup ties, the last couple of weeks have been a bit out-of-the-norm for us WSL fans. However, while we’ve missed having a steady stream of matches to watch on a Sunday, all of this disruption has provided us with something very exciting: Fantasy WSL’s first-ever double gameweek (GW).
‘What’s a double gameweek?’ we hear you ask. It’s kind of what it says on the tin – a week during which some teams have two games as opposed to the normal one. This week (GW19), it’s Arsenal and Bristol City who will be carrying the two-game load, while Chelsea and Tottenham will have a double in GW21. Playing two games in one gameweek means players have two chances to pick up points, making it a wise move to pick a few players from these fixtures who you think will perform well. Captaining one is an even better idea – this week, the Scout is backing Alessia Russo as the top pick.
Clear your calendar, folks — it's a double-game week! 🗓️ #FantasyWSL
But because you’re only allowed a maximum of three players from each club, you’ll need to choose wisely when it comes to firming up your picks. From the Bristol City perspective, Amalie Thestrup has to get a mention, making 17 appearances and scoring nine goals for the club throughout the season so far. It’s when you start thinking about who to pick from Arsenal that things get a bit more complicated. Both of their opponents this week – Bristol City and Leicester City – are teams they beat in the reverse fixture earlier in the season, so their chances of performing well are good. The Leicester City game is also Arsenal’s last game of the season being played at The Emirates, making it even more likely to be a show-stopping affair.
So, who should you pick from Arsenal? Let’s take a closer look at who performed well last time against Bristol and Leicester – as well as who we can expect to make the starting lineups.
Who is going to play for Arsenal this week?
Players have only just returned from the international break, so Jonas Eidevall wasn’t full of information when he took part in the pre-match press conference on Friday (12 April).
What we do know is that Frida Maanum will not be available for the Bristol City match after her collapse on the pitch during the Conti Cup final. However, Eidevall said the situation was “looking good” and that Maanum was following a “graduated, monitored protocol” to get her back on the pitch, meaning she should be available for the Leicester City game.
He also revealed that Vivianne Miedema would not be available for the Bristol City game as she recovers from her minor knee surgery, but said she was back on the pitch.
Who should you pick from Arsenal in GW19?
You can check out the Scout’s recommendations on who to pick this week by checking out their GW19 selection – but here’s a bit more insight into what went down last time Arsenal faced these two teams and who has been performing well across the season.
The Bristol City match back in October ended 1-2 to Arsenal, with Katie McCabe claiming both goals. While we didn’t have our bonus points system in action at that point of the season, it was McCabe, Caitlin Foord and Lotte Wubben-Moy who ranked best for performance – even though Wubben-Moy did get a yellow card in the 31st minute.
On the other hand, the Leicester City match in November was a bit of a goal-fest. It ended 2-6 to Arsenal, with six different players adding a goal to their tally: Cloé Lacasse, Russo, Foord, Victoria Pelova, Stina Blackstenius and Lina Hurtig. It was a game of two halves, with Leicester City going in 2-0 up at halftime – but Arsenal fought back to secure the win in the last 45 minutes. Performance-wise, Pelova came in on top, while Russo and Lacasse took the second and third positions.
What a game. What a comeback. 😅
But don’t just base your choices on those last two matches. A lot has changed for Arsenal since the earlier half of the season, with Noelle Maritz, who has now moved to Aston Villa, playing at right-back against Bristol City, while Amanda Ilestedt, who is now on maternity leave, playing alongside Wubben-Moy at centre back against Leicester City. This week, we can expect Leah Williamson and Emily Fox to fill those gaps – so they could both be worthwhile selections for anyone looking to play The Wall and double their defence points.
However, throughout the season so far, Russo boasts the most goals for Arsenal in the WSL, while Pelova ranks top for assists. Points-wise, that makes them the safest bets – but it’s all to play for as we look forward to the gameweek ahead.
Image: Getty
