Women's Super League

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Former Arsenal striker Ellen White says the Gunners have to put "everything on the line" in their next two games against Bayern Munich and Chelsea.

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live's Women's Football Weekly podcast, England's record goalscorer said Arsenal would need to improve on their performances so far this season.

"From looking at those games, as a striker, the amount of shots they had on target was very poor. They’ve got to be more clinical. They’ve got unbelievable players, it’s finding that right recipe or combination of players that work.

"The Champions League is another level. Bayern are another level. They’re coming off the back of winning the Bundesliga, they’re unbeaten this season, so they’re going to be full of confidence.

"Maybe they’ll also be looking for a bit of revenge after being knocked out by Arsenal a couple of seasons ago.

"It’s going to be a really interesting game, but Arsenal have to step up another level now."

After facing Bayern on Wednesday, Jonas Eidevall's team will take on Chelsea in the Women's Super League on Saturday at the Emirates Stadium.

"The next two games are huge for Arsenal," says White. "If they were to lose against Chelsea, they are way off the title already.

"It’s a huge week for them.

"They are the most exciting games. It’s all pressure but that’s why you play football. You’re putting everything on the line. They have to put everything on the line now.

"I’m not saying they are going to be out of the title, but they would have to have a perfect season if they were to lose against Chelsea on Saturday. They’ve got to go for it."

Listen to the podcast here.

The latest episode of BBC Radio 5 Live's Women's Football Weekly is now available on BBC Sounds.

In this week's podcast, Ellen White and Ben Haines are joined by former Aston Villa manager Carla Ward.

It’s Champions League week with huge games for Arsenal against Bayern Munich and Manchester City facing Barcelona; Ellen and Carla share their thoughts on how to approach such important matches against some of the biggest clubs.

BBC Sport’s Emma Sanders also drops by to take a deep dive into the Championship and take a look at the gap between the top teams and those nearer the bottom. The panel also debate WSL league expansion with promoting more teams from the Championship.

Listen here

Image source, West Ham

West Ham have appointed former Leicester City academy coach Stephen Healy as a first-team coach.

Healy will join manager Rehanne Skinner's backroom staff having worked as a development officer at New York Red Bulls and Northampton Town as well as as a Boys Centre of Excellence coach.

"I’m delighted to be joining West Ham United,” said Healy. “I was excited to be given the opportunity to present to Rehanne and the team recently and felt energised and enthused by the long-term vision of the club.

"I’m now looking forward to being part of this project and I hope I can use my experience to develop the current crop of players at West Ham United."

The Hammers currently sit 11th in the Women's Super League after two losses and a draw.

"I’m really pleased to have Steve join us,” said Skinner.

"Steve has a wealth of experience working across different levels of the game, including within the women’s game. Steve will help us to build confidence around our attacking play whilst also managing and enhancing our players’ individual development programmes.

“He has a proven track record in improving the performances of senior players, as well as transitioning youth players into the first team."

Jonty Colman
BBC Sport journalist

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Arsenal and England captain Leah Williamson spoke to the media following the Gunners' 0-0 draw with Everton at Goodison Park.

She discussed the result, Arsenal's midweek Champions League meeting with Bayern Munich, hopes for the season and more.

On the result: "I think we played good football and we looked a threat, it’s just getting the ball over the line.

"I think at the start of the game, we could’ve played with a bit more intensity and urgency. I think that would’ve helped us more as the game went on and would’ve helped break them down a little bit more. I don’t know. At the end, you’ve basically got their whole team in the box and they are a strong team, just throwing themselves in front of it. That’s football. Their keeper had a worldie.

On dropping points the how competitive the Women's Super League is this season: "I think if you asked me a couple of seasons ago, I think I would’ve said it felt like we’ve lost the league even now because the points weren’t being dropped elsewhere. Maybe, I’m hoping that that is the case this year but from our [view], we don’t expect to have many games like that and for it to come so early in the season is disappointing."

On the importance for squad depth: "Go back seasons ago, there’s no way our squads would have been able to deal with this workload. It’s important that there’s rotation, there’s tactical decisions that go into it. It’s not my job to do that, I’m glad. The schedule is unforgiving so we have to be ready. It’s not about reserving energy, we have to energise ourselves by playing at that intensity."

On her concussion enforced absence: "It’s something you have to take seriously which is very frustrating but now, I feel good. I feel really good and actually, I’ve had a great week training in terms of the way I feel and today, I felt good as well. Just need the results to start coming now as well."

On facing Bayern Munich and the differences in the squad from that faced them in 2023: "I think we’re a more mature squad than we were then. I think in terms of the way that we play the game and go into games, but I think the intensity is still the same. You are playing two really high intensity teams against each other. I know that they are in form, but I think so are we, I know we’ve dropped points today but we are. I’m really looking forward to this one."

On the importance of being back in the Champions League: "Massive. Qualifying for the Champions League, that’s the most important week of our season until the last in my opinion. This football club has to be in the Champions League. We’ve got 25,000 here today with no crazy advertisement or pushes to sell tickets, that’s how many people want to come and watch us and they deserve Champions League nights as well."

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Aston Villa have confirmed captain Rachel Corsie has undergone knee surgery and will be sidelined for eight weeks.

The Scotland captain will miss the Euro 2025 play-off with Hungary this month.

The first leg against Hungary takes place in Budapest on 25 October (17:15 BST), before the return on 29 October at Easter Road (19:35).

She made 26 appearances last season and was in Robert de Pauw's squad for the opening-day defeat by Chelsea, but has not yet featured this season.

Image source, Getty Images

Everton Women are set to play back-to-back home fixtures at Goodison Park for the first time in November.

The Blues will play against Chelsea at Goodison on 3 November before hosting the Merseyside Derby against Liverpool two weeks later on 16 November.

Everton were watched on by 9,457 fans when they last played in the stadium in an uneventful 0-0 draw against Liverpool in March.

This is Everton's last season at Goodison Park, with the club set to move into a new 52,888-capacity ground at Bramley-Moore Dock for the start of the 2025-26 campaign.

Arsenal boss Jonas Eidevall has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Women's Super League game against West Ham at Emirates Stadium (kick-off 13:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Eidevall criticised the WSL for not being "proactive" with fixture scheduling in regards to Women's Champions League games after Chelsea's league game against Manchester United was postponed, calling their behaviour "amateurish".

• Laura Wienroither will miss Sunday's game with a "minor injury", but both Leah Williamson and Steph Catley "have the potential" to make the squad.

• Eidevall said there were "a lot of positives" to take from the 1-0 win over Leicester on Sunday but also "things we should be doing better as well".

• On Frida Maanum, he said: "We worked a lot with her and she has worked a lot on the training pitch. She is very ambitious."

• Asked whether the WSL is getting stronger, Eidevall said: "Every team is strengthening year after year. You compare Leicester's squad to two or three seasons ago, there is a massive difference. It's such an evolving league. That is why it is so exciting to be a part of the league."

• With five games in the 15 days, he said it is going to be "crucial" to manage the squad properly.

• Eidevall said Kyra Cooney-Cross has "developed really well", adding: "Kyra is still a young player. She has parts in her game that she should develop but she is working really hard on it."