Emma Sanders
BBC Sport women’s football news reporter at Stamford Bridge

Image source, BBC Sport

These two teams have a long-standing rivalry and they are not afraid to talk about it.

Arsenal boss Renee Slegers has experienced it before as assistant manager and said she understood what it meant to fans.

And Chelsea captain Millie Bright has started her match programme column discussing it.

"It goes without saying what this game means to both clubs. It's always been one of huge rivalry," says Bright.

"It's really intense and I think it's a game that always very much excites the fans.

"We know what's riding on it but our mentality, no matter the opponent, has been to make sure we stay at the top of the table."

Chelsea midfielder Guro Reiten says Women's Super League matches against Arsenal "mean something extra" because of the rivalry between the teams.

Reiten, who is in her sixth season at Chelsea, has so far won the WSL title each year she has been at the club.

With a six-point lead at the top of the table, Chelsea are again in a strong position going into today's derby.

But Reiten - who is on the bench for today's game - believes the fixtures have added significance outside the battle for the title.

"They are the best games. To walk out at Stamford Bridge with the fans behind us so loud, it is an amazing feeling," the 30-year-old told BBC Sport.

"There is extra pressure in those games [and] you never know what to expect. They are the games you love to win and hate to lose. It means something extra for everyone."

Read more here

Arsenal

Chelsea v Arsenal is a fixture with a long history in the Women's Super League, with the two being constant heavyweights in the division and London rivals.

Arsenal boss Renee Slegers says she "understands" what the rivalry means to fans going in to today's game.

"We respect Chelsea for who they are and all the strengths they have. But for me, I care a lot about Arsenal so I want to do the best for Arsenal," she said.

"Of course I understand what [the rivalry] means for fans and for certain players. It's going to be a game that will be tight.

"There will be physical battles on the pitch and momentum will probably shift. It will be interesting to see who can capitalise when the chances are there."

It has been a superb start to the season for Chelsea since changing managers in the summer with Sonia Bompastor stepping in after Emma Hayes' successful reign.

The Blues have won 10 of their 11 WSL matches so far this season, only dropping points in a 1-1 draw with Leicester, external before Christmas.

Meanwhile, it has been a more challenging season for Arsenal, with former manager Jonas Eidevall stepping down after their 2-1 defeat by Chelsea in October.

They had ground to make up in the WSL title race but under Renee Slegers - who was upgraded from interim to permanent manager this month - they have gone unbeaten in 12 matches and now sit second in the table.

Both teams are in fine form, but will either manager suffer their first defeat this afternoon?

Image source, Getty Images

Want a bit of light viewing to get yourself in the mood for this one?

Chelsea midfielders Erin Cuthbert and Guro Reiten take on the ultimate friendship test and reveal a few home truths to one another in Honesty Cards.

We've already had one game take place in the Women's Super League this weekend, with Manchester City attempting to keep their title hopes alive by beating Aston Villa yesterday.

City, who had lost back-to-back WSL matches before their trip to Villa Park, won 4-2 and – albeit having played a game more – moved up to secondf, six points off leaders Chelsea.

Vivianne Miedema scored twice, while Mary Fowler and Jess Park also got in on the act, to cancel out Chasity Grant's goal and Laia Aleixandri's own goal.

Match report: Aston Villa 2-4 Manchester City

Read more: Fit-again Miedema a tonic for troubled Man City.

Chelsea are currently six points clear at the top of the Women's Super League, with Manchester City's win against Aston Villa yesterday reducing their advantage.

But that may only be temporary, as Chelsea have a game in hand and could go back to being nine points clear with a victory this afternoon.

Arsenal, meanwhile, could leave Chelsea just five points ahead of them at the top if they win today. Three points would see them leapfrog Man City and rise to second.

Image source, Getty Images

Emma Sanders
BBC Sport women’s football news reporter at Stamford Bridge

Sonia Bompastor makes just one change to the Chelsea side who beat West Ham heavily in the league last weekend.

Lauren James, who was back in contention following her recovery from injury, is named as a substitute.

Aggie Beever-Jones is the one to drop out with Johanna Rytting Kaneryd coming into the starting XI.

Catarina Macario makes her second successive league start and Eve Perisset is not in the squad amid rumours of a January departure.

Chelsea XI: Hampton, Bronze, Bright, Bjorn, Charles, Nusken, Cuthbert, Kaneryd, Macario, Baltimore, Ramirez.

Subs: Musovic, Lawrence, Mpome, Kaptein, Jean-Francois, Hamano, Reiten, James, Beever-Jones.

Arsenal manager Renee Slegers makes just one change to the team who beat Crystal Palace 5-0 last weekend.

Frida Maanum drops to the bench with Caitlin Foord returning. She was left out of the squad on Wednesday as a precaution but trained fully on Friday.

Lia Walti, who came off in the second half of their Women's League Cup victory over Brighton, is on the bench but is fully fit.

Arsenal XI: Van Domselaar, Fox, Williamson, Catley, Caldentey, Mead, Little, McCabe, Foord, Russo, Cooney-Cross.

Subs: Zinsberger, Wubben-Moy, Codina, Wienroither, Reid, Walti, Maanum, Kafaji, Blackstenius.

There are five games taking place in the Women's Super League, beginning with Arsenal's visit to Chelsea.

Here's what's on the way:

• 12:30 - Chelsea v Arsenal
• 14:00 - Crystal Palace v Tottenham
• 15:00 - Leicester v Liverpool
• 15:00 - West Ham v Everton
• 18:45 - Man Utd v Brighton

Hello!

We've got a massive match coming up in the Women's Super League as part of today's five fixtures.

League leaders Chesea take on Arsenal for the second time this season and will hope to repeat October's 2-1 win - but a lot has changed since then for the Gunners.

That defeat was Jonas Eidevall's final game in charge. They're now led by Renee Slegers, who is yet to lose either as interim manager or since taking the permanent job.

Chelsea, though, are the only team in the division who are still unbeaten, having won 10 games and drawn one at the league's half-way mark. Can they keep up their form at Stamford Bridge today?

There's live coverage of the game available on this page via BBC Two, plus we'll be here to talk you through all the day's action.

Let's get started.

Image source, Getty Images