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Aston Villa return to Villa Park this evening after two huge wins on the road and boss Natalia Arroyo says the side are "excited" to be playing back in front of their home crowd in what is proving their "best moment" of the season.

"We are excited, we want to play at home and the context is totally different than last time, " she said.

"We know it will be difficult because Arsenal are in their best moment (form) of the season. But we are also in a good moment, our best moment of the season, after two wins and we will fight for the third one."

Villa have failed to win three consecutive league games since March 2023, and have not won at home this season since 15 December, when they beat West Ham 3-1.

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Aston Villa have endured a turbulent 2024-25 campaign, lingering near the bottom of the table for the most part and harbouring very real fears of relegation to the second tier.

However in recent weeks as Crystal Palace tried and ultimately failed to keep pace, two dramatic and very late wins in a row at Liverpool and Tottenham catapulted the Villans onto 16 points - seven clear of the Eagles.

So in the end Natalia Arroyo's side's top flight status was secured with plenty of time to spare - three games in fact.

The pressure is off and they can play with freedom for the first time under the Spaniard, who let's not forget only arrived back in January.

Perfect timing for the visit of one of the so-called "big three".

BBC Radio 5 Live

We've got you covered with live commentary of both games this evening.

Former England and Brighton defender Fern Whelan is on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra at Villa Park - that's getting started any moment now.

While former Liverpool striker Natasha Dowie is with Vicki Sparks at Leigh Sports Village from 19:00 BST on BBC Radio 5 Live for Manchester United v Chelsea.

You can find the listening options at the top of this live page.

And here's how the table looks ahead of tonight's two games.

Chelsea sit six clear at the top, Arsenal are in second, and Manchester United are two points further back in third.

Villa aren't on this graphic but I can tell you they sit in 10th, on 16 points.

The WSL top three qualify for Europe next season, and Chelsea have already secured their spot in the Champions League for 2025-26.

Arsenal will guarantee a top three place with at least a point, while Manchester United will secure qualification should they beat Chelsea.

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Arsenal boss Renee Slegers says that the side can use the emotion from their Champions League semi-final triumph over Lyon as "positive energy" for their trip to Villa Park.

The Gunners swept away the eight-time European Champions 6-2 on aggregate to advance to the final on 24 May in Lisbon.

"I think we don't want to neglect emotions," said Slegers. "Emotions can be turned into a lot of positive energy. So that's the balance we try to find, to find the perfect preparation for us.

"We've been very good in games to regulate our emotions and so I think that's a quality that the team has, so that's going to be needed now as well," she added.

Arsenal sit second in the WSL table, six points behind London rivals Chelsea heading into their match against Aston Villa.

The Gunners must win in order to prevent the Blues from having the chance to seal a sixth straight WSL title against Manchester United later this evening.

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Having secured their place in next month's Champions League final by beating Lyon in their own backyard this past weekend, Arsenal's attentions switch back to league action this evening.

They head to Villa park as the form team in the Women's Super League, winning their last six matches by an aggregate score of 25-5.

This great run has them in second, six points behind leaders Chelsea at the summit, with a slim chance still winning the title, while they are leading the race to secure European football for next season.

Manchester United (2 points back) and Manchester City (6 points back) also remain in the hunt.

An away win against Aston Villa would put Arsenal over the line for Europe next season while simultaneously putting a pin in Chelsea's title party - that's surely all the motivation they need?

Natalia Arroyo makes three changes to her Aston Villa side that claimed a 3-2 win over Tottenham earlier this week.

After coming off the bench to score against Spurs and Liverpool, Kirsty Hanson has earned a starting place.

Jordan Nobbs and Danielle Turner also come in, while the Lucy Parker, Anna Patten and Lucy Staniforth drop out of the squad.

Aston Villa XI: D'Angelo, Grant, Turner, Maritz, Pacheco, Nobbs, Taylor, Kearns, Hanson, Salmon, Daly.

Subs: Talbert, Mayling, Corsie, Sallaway, Maltby, Sorrentino, Baijings, Robinson.

Arsenal boss Renee Slegers rotates heavily, with seven changes after Sunday's comeback win against Lyon to reach the final of the Women's Champions League.

Manuela Zinsberger replaces Daphne van Domselaar in goal, while Lotte Wubben-Moy and Victoria Pelova come in for their first starts since returning from injury.

Katie Reid makes her first WSL start, with Beth Mead, Stina Blackstenius and Kyra Cooney-Cross coming into the starting line-up.

Leah Williamson, Emily Fox, Kim Little, Alessia Russo, Frida Maanum and Caitlin Foord are all on the bench.

Arsenal XI: Zinsberger, Reid, Wubben-Moy, Catley, McCabe, Mariona, Pelova, Cooney-Cross, Mead, Blackstenius, Kelly.

Subs: Williams, Fox, Williamson, Little, Maanum, Walti, Foord, Russo, Ilestedt

Here comes the team news from Villa Park...

Chelsea and Arsenal are the two sides in with the best chance of winning the WSL title - and they were also the teams in Champions League action last weekend.

These matches are holdovers due to the London sides being in European action last Sunday; with the added benefit of creating a pretty fascinating WSL title shoot-out.

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Good evening, how are we?

Glad to have you along with us as we take you through two intriguing Women’s Super League games.

Arsenal are aiming to secure European football for next season when they travel to Aston Villa at 18:00 BST.

They are also trying to stop Chelsea winning the title (well, at least until the weekend).

Should the Gunners fail to win the Blues can wrap up a sixth straight crown by bettering their result when they head to Manchester United later this evening.

Now’s your chance to grab a brew and a biscuit before we get going…