Tasnim Chowdhury
BBC Sport journalist

London City Lionesses are the newest arrivals in the Women's Super League, have been well backed financially and are built to challenge for the biggest prizes.

The Lionesses may prove uncomfortably 'noisy neighbours' for reigning WSL champions Chelsea and Champions League winners Arsenal as the 2025-26 domestic season begins.

London City are the only WSL team to not have an affiliated men's team.

They were promoted to the WSL as winners of last season's Championship - the competition now known as WSL 2.

They play home matches at Hayes Lane - a stadium they share with Bromley, who play in League Two in men's football. There is no connection on the playing side between the teams.

Read the full profile on the WSL newcomers from BBC Sport's 'Ask Me Anything' team

If you're tuning in to a London City Lionesses game for the first time today, you might well be wondering, who are they?

Well wonder no more...

London City Lionesses

London City Lionesses manager Jocelyn Precheur speaking to BBC Sport on the club's WSL debut against Arsenal: "It couldn't be more perfect than this. It's a very important day for the club.

"We fought very hard last season to be promoted. We wanted to play against the best and now we play against the champions of Europe in Arsenal. I hope all the players will enjoy the game."

On the club's ambitions for the season: "We want to compete. We want to play the best as possible. We have signed many good players and talents. However, we need to make sure we can make them work together. I don't know how long it will take. But if we adapt and find a way to play all together quickly, I think we can be ambitious."

On new signings: "I need to know more about the players who have arrived first. Many have arrived this week and the last week. But they are very motivated and they want to perform. I am confident we can do it in a short time.

"We are a very young club. We don't have the experience at the highest level. It's something we need to build. But when we have experienced players like Danielle [van de Donk] and Nikita [Parris], it makes my job a lot easier to build that future."

Arsenal

Arsenal manager Renee Slegers speaking to BBC Sport: "It was a very, very proud moment for us [winning the Champions League'. It was an eventful season for us and we are very proud we won it. But this is a new season starting and we start from scratch. We start from zero like every other team. We are very aware we are starting from zero again."

On whether winning the WSL is the clubs' priority: "If you are Arsenal, you want to compete for all trophies. But the game today is what's on my mind right now. The first one is always a lot of unknowns, especially with this opposition and a lot of changes to their squad. But if you look bigger, if you play and work for Arsenal, you want to go for trophies."

On facing Lion City Lionesses: "We feel prepared. We understand their style of play and they will challenge us. There will be a lot of new players for us and them. They will be high quality players, so we have to be very humble today."

Emma Sanders
BBC Sport women’s football news reporter at Emirates Stadium

London City Lionesses' blockbuster deadline day signing Grace Geyoro isn't with the squad today as her transfer from Paris St-Germain went in too late.

But Lucia Corrales, the young Spanish international who arrived from Barcelona, is eligible.

There were a total of 17 incomings for London City Lionesses in the window, including 16 permanent additions and one loan.

They are literally an unknown.

As previously mentioned world record signing Olivia Smith and England shootout hero Chloe Kelly are in from the off for Arsenal.

Image source, Getty Images

Today's teams Arsenal and London City Lionesses were two of the biggest spenders in the summer transfer window, breaking records for their respective acquisitions of Olivia Smith and Grace Geyoro.

Plenty of clubs had us busy right up until last Thursday's 23:00 BST deadline.

You can see all of the confirmed deals done by WSL clubs here.

We asked our esteemed line-up of pundits and presenters to make their predictions for who they will think will win the league plus the two clubs that they think will grab the Champions League spots.

Here's how those predictions shaped up in full:

*All predictions were made before Thursday's transfer deadline*

Image source, BBC Sport

I agree Gary and Chris, it's a tough one to call this. So many unknowns, but that's what makes it exciting, right?

On that note, how about we take a look at the BBC Sport pundit and presenter predictions for the season?

We want to hear from you on this sunny Saturday.

What did you make of Champions Chelsea in their defeat of rivals Man City last night? Who are you predicting to offer up the biggest challenge to their bid for seven titles in a row?

Which players are you looking forward to seeing at the Emirates this afternoon?

Get in touch via the usual means listed above and please make sure to add your name on the end of your message - It's nice to know who we're chatting to!

BBC Radio 5 Live

If you're out and about this afternoon but still want to keep across the match then don't worry, BBC Radio 5 Live have got you covered.

Mark Chapman is currently looking ahead to the biggest sporting action of the day, including previewing the action from the Emirates.

Tune in from 13:30 BST to join Vicki Sparks and former Arsenal and England defender Anita Asante for full live commentary.

Emma Sanders
BBC Sport women’s football news reporter at Emirates Stadium

Renee Slegers has handed an Arsenal debut to £1m signing Olivia Smith.

Young academy graduate Katie Reid is also in the starting XI but summer signing Taylor Hinds is only on the bench.

England hero Chloe Kelly, who signed permanently from Manchester City in the summer, lines up in attack.

Arsenal XI: Van Domselaar, Fox, Catley, Mariona, Little, McCabe, Smith, Kelly, Pelova, Russo, Reid.

Subs: Zinsberger, Wubben-Moy, Codina, Mead, Maanum, Foord, Hinds, Blackstenius, Cooney-Cross.

There's no Grace Geyoro in the London City Lionesses squad as expected because her transfer went through too late.

But there are several new faces including England forward Nikita Parris, former Manchester United captain Katie Zelem, ex-Manchester City defender Alanna Kennedy and Jana Fernandez from Barcelona.

Ex-Lyon midfielder Danielle van de Donk, who used to play for Arsenal, is not in the squad as she's carrying an injury.

London City Lionesses XI: Lete, Fernandez, Perez, Kumagai, Asllani, Linari, Parris, Zelem, Goodwin, Imuran, Kennedy.

Subs: Orman, Goldie, Corrales, Jakobsson, Franssi, Roddar, Lindstrom, Sangare, Henson.

Is the chat of title challenges and roaring starts getting anyone else excited? It should be.

Let's head over to the Emirates for today's team news.

Image source, Getty Images

Since they secured promotion on the final day of the 2024-25 WSL 2 campaign, London City Lionesses have been on a mission to not only survive in the top flight but to compete, and compete well.

They've overhauled their squad, with 13 outgoings and 17 incomings, including the arrival of France international Grace Geyoro on deadline day for a huge fee of circa £1m.

They're also embarking on a huge renovation of their training base Cobdown Park, with the aim to turn it into a centre of excellence.

Make no mistake. Unlike promoted teams that have come before them, the Lionesses and their ambitious owner Michele Kang have no intention of being part of a relegation battle.

Oh no, they're very much here to take on the big dogs.

Ellen White
England Euro 2022 winner on BBC Women's Football Weekly

I love it, go on, London City Lionesses. We are seeing a newly promoted team doing something in the WSL that we have never really seen before with their recruitment. They are spending big but also recruiting players who are experienced.

It is really interesting - 14 new signings, that's a lot of players coming in, then it is about the manager - can you get them gelling?

I think they could potentially be a dark horse. I think they could ruffle some feathers. It is something different and exciting that we needed in this league.

Image source, Getty Images

While it may be Renee Slegers' first full season as Arsenal boss, the pressure and expectation on the Gunners is higher than ever after their Champions League triumph in Lisbon in May.

They're the only English club to be crowned Champions of Europe, and they've now done it twice, but that does not hide their poor domestic showings in recent seasons.

2019 was the last time that anyone other than Chelsea lifted the Women's Super League title, with the Gunners themselves coming out on top that year.

Having spent a world record £1m fee on winger Olivia Smith from Liverpool and brought two-time Euros champion Chloe Kelly in on a permanent deal from Man City, Arsenal were further boosted by the news that last season's WSL joint-Golden Boot winner Alessia Russo penned a new long term deal on Friday.

All of that considered, Slegers and Co really have no excuses but to offer up a proper title tilt this term.

Jen Beattie
Former Arsenal defender on BBC Women's Football Weekly

I will be so intrigued to see how Arsenal get on against London City [in their opening game] because there is so much hype about them this year. It is a hard game to start.

They have so much strength, I don't know how they will line up. They have so much firepower in the front line, their back line is solid.

They have European success - the biggest success they could have had and they have to turn that into domestic success.

I think we all have high hopes for Arsenal.

Rise and shine, it's the first Saturday of the Women's Super League season.

First up for top flight new girls London City Lionesses is a trip across town to take on European champions Arsenal.

Will it be a baptism of fire or can they make a statement start to life in the big time?

Let's find out.

Image source, Getty Images