Ellen White
Former England striker on BBC Women's Football Weekly

It's going to be a real challenge for Arsenal. It's come at a good time for them. They have to put everything together now, and they have to perform and improve and really kickstart their season.

They've had a decent run of games, but this is the one where you're pitted against the best of the WSL. I think if you're not competing and at least getting points from them, then the title is out of reach, and they have to focus on getting in the Champions League again.

Image source, Getty Images

Aston Villa boss Natalia Arroyo had a word of caution for her side ahead of their trip north to face Manchester United, warning that her side must not give their opponent "chance to destroy us."

"When Man United visited Villa Park [last season] I was already here. They destroyed us in the first half. I know that can happen because they are so strong," said Arroyo in her pre-match press conference.

"We need to not give them the chance to destroy us as they did then.

Villa have already faced two of the so-called 'big teams' this season, pushing Chelsea to the very end in a 3-1 defeat at Villa Park in September, before claiming a 1-1 draw at the Emirates a week later.

Arroyo added, "If we can be closer to the version that we showed against Chelsea, Arsenal, to pick maybe two good examples, that’s them. That’s the ambition, that’s the bravery that we, that we want and to be ready for everything."

Image source, Getty Images

Aston Villa have been the Women’s Super League draw specialists this season with four from their first six games, with a win and a draw in the other two played so far.

No other side in the division has drawn more than one fixture, so what is it about the Villans that is stopping them converting those draws into wins?

Well…

While Villa have won the second most points from losing positions (12) since the start of last season, they have also lost the second most points from winning positions during that period (15).

Image source, Getty Images

It’s been a smooth sailing start to the season for Marc Skinner and his Manchester United side. Played seven, won five, drawn two in the league. They’re also the WSL’s top scorers with 19 goals in their first seven games, conceding just five.

In Europe they’ve won two games and kept two successive clean sheets to start the league phase. Things could hardly have gone any better.

So it begs the question, are they legitimate title contenders or simply pretenders?

Charlotte Coates
BBC Sport at Emirates Stadium

On the walk towards the Emirates today, the streets of north London were decked in red with scarves and banners out in force.

Arsenal fans perhaps very keen to remind Chelsea of that one trophy they are yet to win…

Reigning champions Chelsea lead the early title contenders with the two Manchester clubs in close pursuit.

European champions Arsenal are five adrift of the summit. Aston Villa are comfortably mid table.

Manchester United head coach Marc Skinner makes three changes to the side which claimed a 3-2 win over Brighton last weekend.

Defender Gabby George, midfielder Lisa Naalsund and forward Fridolina Rolfo are all handed recalls.

Anna Sandberg, Julia Zigiotti Olme and Melvine Malard are the players to make way and are all named among the substitutes.

Man Utd XI: Tullis-Joyce, Riviere, Le Tissier, Janssen, George, Miyazawa, Park, Naalsund, Toone, Terland, Rolfo

Subs: Middleton-Pate, Rendell, Blundell, Sandberg, Awujo, Zigiotti Olme, Malard, Williams

Image source, BBC Sport

Aston Villa boss Natalia Arroyo makes just the one change from the side which drew 3-3 with Everton last weekend.

Dutchwoman Chasity Grant comes in at right wing-back for Rachel Maltby, who drops to the bench.

Aston Villa XI: D'Angelo, Wilms, Patten, Deslandes, Maritz, Kendall, Taylor, Kearns Grant, Mullett, Hanson

Subs: Roebuck, Sallaway, Mayling, Maltby, Salmon, Daly

Image source, BBC Sport

Charlotte Coates
BBC Sport at Emirates Stadium

Renee Slegers has made three changes to the Arsenal side that beat Leicester 4-1 last Sunday.

Taylor Hinds, Laia Codina and Kim Little drop out, with Lotte Wubben-Moy, Emily Fox and Victoria Pelova coming in.

Arsenal XI: Van Domselaar, Fox, Wubben-Moy, Catley, McCabe, Pelova, Caldentey, Foord, Mead, Russo, Blackstenius

Subs: Borbe, Codina, Maanum, Smith, Kelly, Nighswonger, Hinds, Cooney-Cross, Harwood.

Chelsea boss Sonia Bompastor has made five changes to the side that toppled London City Lionesses last Saturday.

USA international Alyssa Thompson comes into the side with Ellie Carpenter dropping out.

England striker Aggie Beever-Jones misses out with the dead leg she picked up on international duty.

Chelsea XI: Hampton, Bronze, Bjorn, Bright, Charles, Walsh, Kaptein, Cuthbert, Thompson, Macario, Rytting Kaneryd.

Subs: Peng, Carpenter, Buurman, Nusken, Girma, Baltimore, Kerr, Hamano, Jean-Francois.

Team news incoming in 3...2...1

Image source, Getty Images

Arsenal are already playing catch up in the WSL title race after slumping to two draws and suffering one defeat already inside their opening seven games of the campaign, with today’s opponents Chelsea the early pacesetters once again.

The Blues arrive at the Emirates on a 33-game unbeaten run in the league, stretching back to Emma Hayes’ final season in charge of the side. Indeed Sonia Bompastor still doesn’t know what it feels like to taste defeat on these shores after scooping a domestic treble last term.

So what will it be? Another (perhaps fatal) blow to Arsenal’s title hopes or will the Gunners inflict a first league defeat of the Bompastor era on the Blues?

As ever we want to hear your thoughts on today's huge game at the Emirates as well as Villa's visit to Manchester United.

How do you see each game going? Any score predictions? Is it curtains for Arsenal's title bid if they suffer another defeat?

Get in touch via the usual means and please make sure to add your name to the end of your messages - it's great to know who I'm chatting to!

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

I think this is the biggest test outside of Lyon in the Champions League for Arsenal so far.

I think they have to be the team that stops Chelsea. I do think they have more than enough quality in their squad to do it. We've seen that in the past 12 months, it's whether they get it tactically right.

Image source, Getty Images

Hello there!

It's a huge afternoon of football to start the Women's Super League weekend as champions Chelsea head across the capital to face European champions Arsenal.

Meanwhile Manchester United host Aston Villa knowing that they could well end the day top of the pile if all goes their way.

We've got plenty of chat to get through before kick off, so let's get started.