Arsenal

Here's more from Arsenal manager Jonas Eidevalll speaking to Sky Sports about the absence of defender Leah Williamson: "Unfortunately she is on the concussion protocol and we have to follow the necessary steps for that process. For now she is unavailable for selection."

On the Emirates being the side's main home: "We are hoping to create a really good atmosphere and that depends on the way we are playing, the way the fans are energising us and how we are energising them. We have created so many good memories in the last three seasons here at the Emirates and we want to continue that because it will help us to build mometum going forward and help us to build the football club."

Fara Williams
Former England midfielder on BBC Two

Big game. There's the narrative of Vivianne Miedema returning to her old club, she probably would have wanted this game to come a little later in the season. It is going to be a competitive game but I am going to call it and just give the win to Man City.

Adam Millington
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester City boss Gareth Taylor said naming defender Alex Greenwood as their new club captain was a "fairly easy" decision.

Greenwood, who joined City from Lyon in 2020, takes the armband on a permanent basis following the retirement of former captain Steph Houghton.

Taylor said that England defender Greenwood, 31, is the "main figure that we really want to embody everything that we do at City".

"You always look for that club captain to embody everything that you're about and Alex is cetainly that," Taylor said in his pre-match news conference before Sunday's Women's Super League game against Arsenal.

"She had big shoes to fill with Steph and taking over in that role, but what I would add is that Alex is a big driver of the way we do things on and off the pitch which is really important as well as obviously being a top player."

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester City know "what they need to do to go to the next step" in order to win the Women's Super League title, says manager Gareth Taylor.

"Sometimes you work tremendously hard like we did last season and things don't quite go your way," said Taylor.

"That's not to say that we're not incredibly proud of what we did. The one thing we can take, is we know exactly what we have to do now to win the title.

"We have to use that as fuel, whether it be in the Champions League, or in the WSL, to really use all of those experiences, use all of that knowledge and really push on."

Image source, Getty Images

It's worth noting that both these teams have the return leg of their Champions League second-round qualifiers on Thursday.

While Manchester City have one foot in the group stages after a 5-0 victory over Paris FC, Arsenal have it all to do at Meadow Park following a 1-0 defeat by BK Hacken.

How big of a part will that play today?

Image source, Getty Images

Here's a look at the signings Arsenal made this summer...

• Rosa Kafaji (Forward, from BK Hacken)
• Daphne van Domselaar (Goalkeeper, from Aston Villa)
• Sophie Harwood (Midfielder, from Southampton)
• Mariona Caldentey (Forward, from Barcelona)

Image source, Getty Images

And these are the players that joined Manchester City, with one name sure to jump out at Gunners fans...

• Naomi Layzell (Defender, from Bristol City)
• Ayaka Yamashita (Goalkeeper, from INAC Kobe)
• Eve Annets (Goalkeeper, from Reading)
• Aoba Fujino (Forward, from Tokyo Verdy)
• Risa Shimizu (Defender, from West Ham)
• Vivianne Miedema (Forward, from Arsenal)
• Katie Startup (Goalkeeper, from Brighton)

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

It was a wet evening in London last night and it still hasn't dried up around Emirates Stadium as fans arrive early.

I walked past an inflatable Gunnersaurus - the club's official mascot - which had not been able to withstand the rain and looked withered on the side of the road.

But there is nothing damp about today's fixture.

This is a heavyweight clash between two of the league's most ambitious clubs, who both see themselves as title challengers.

Vivianne Miedema will make her return to the Emirates to face her former club and Manchester City will want revenge for the 2-1 defeat they suffered in the penultimate game of last season, that ultimately handed Chelsea the WSL title on goal difference.

It's spicy and it's the perfect way to end the opening weekend of the WSL season. I can't wait!

Ellen White
Former England striker on BBC Two

It is a huge game for the first game of the season. Man City come into it off the back of that huge 5-0 win against Paris FC in the Champions League, Arsenal come into it off the back of the defeat to Hacken, so they will be hurt.

It’s at the Emirates with a big crowd. There’s new signings to see; Vivianne Miedema having her first game for City back at the Emirates. It's a real clash of the titans.

Image source, Getty Images

Perhaps it's a bit too early in the season to be calling this one a title-decider.

But that's exactly what it was back in May when two late goals from Stina Blackstenius spoiled Manchester City's chances.

A victory against Arsenal would have given Gareth Taylor's a chance of WSL glory later that day, but Chelsea kept the pace and a better goal difference for Emma Hayes' Blues saw them win the title a week later.

Less than 30 minutes to go before kick-off at the Emirates and it feels like the tension is rising. What a game this should be!

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Laura Kaminski says her newly-promoted Crystal Palace side must be prepared to face "world class players" in the Women's Super League.

Kaminski wants Palace to keep the attacking approach that helped win them the Championship last season, while also adapting to the step-up to the WSL.

"There are elements of that style that I want to take and carry forward into the WSL, but equally we know things are going to be more challenging, more difficult," Kaminski said.

"We've got to be resilient in terms of dealing with those challenges."

"The differences in the leagues are huge and last year we scored a phenomenal amount of goals and set quite a few records for the club in terms of the attacking football and style that we had," Kaminski added.

Image source, Getty Images

Tottenham boss Robert Vilahamn hopes his players can use their experiences from last season to build forwards as they prepare for a new campaign.

"We want to improve this season," he said. "Don’t misunderstand me, I want to go for the Champions League, I want to go for the [title] win, but I am also looking into this league and how big the gap was when I arrived to this league.

"We closed that gap a little bit, but you see a lot of teams invest so I would be stupid to sit here and say we are going to win this season. We are going to push for as high up the table as possible", he added.

Image source, Getty Images

Leicester City's new boss Amandine Miquel, meanwhile, says she does not want her team to focus on "winning everything" as she prepares for her first season in charge at the club.

Miquel spent seven seasons with Reims in her native France before joining Leicester in July.

"I'm not really wanting the team, or the club or myself to focus on winning everything because you’re defeating the process," she said.

"We have to finish the game happy with what we’ve trained to do. If it is a win it is better, but if not, it is not a problem."

Image source, Getty Images

Liverpool manager Matt Beard says their ambition this season is to "break into the top three" in the Women's Super League.

The Reds finished fourth last season, nine points off third-placed Arsenal.

"We want to do as well as we can, we want to win trophies, we want to compete," Beard said.

"It's tough to break into that top three, the money they're spending. Even some of the other clubs, the money that is being spent - it has been a mad window."

He added: "Our ambition is to break into that top three like anyone else. On our day we can beat anyone. We’ve proved that over the last two years."

Of course, it's not just Arsenal and Manchester City playing in the WSL today.

As that game is finishes up, Liverpool will kick-off against Leicester at their new home in St Helens, while Tottenham host newcomers Crystal Palace...

Image source, Getty Images

As ever we want to hear from you on all things WSL this afternoon.

Which side has impressed you the most so far on this opening weekend? Which individual displays have caught your eye? What are your predictions for today's big match up at the Emirates?

Write in via #bbcfootball, text 81111 (UK only - standard rates apply) or WhatsApp 03301231826.

Please remember to leave your name at the end of your message.

Manchester City, after missing out on the title last season only on goal difference, are definitely back among the favourites to lift the WSL trophy this season.

In fact, three of our BBC Sport pundits have predicted Gareth Taylor's team will go all the way this year, while only former Gunners player Jen Beattie has gone with Arsenal as title favourite.

Perhaps we'll have a better idea after today of how the season will pan out.

You can read our 2024-25 predictions piece here.