Manchester City

Manchester City manager Gareth Taylor speaking to BBC Two ahead of today's match about Alex Greenwood's absence due to a head injury suffered on England duty: "Of course, she is an important player for us.

"We are confident in the girls we have. We made nine changes in the Conti Cup and played well. We are pretty comfortable with the players we have."

Arsenal

Arsenal manager Jonas Eidevall speaking to BBC Two ahead of today's match: "[The squad] is going to change during the season.

"We have a competitive squad and players coming back from injuries. Hopefully that will not be a permanent state and I can see that changing this season."

In November last year Arsenal and England forward Beth Mead ruptured her anterior cruciate ligament in the final minutes of a Women's Super League defeat by Manchester United.

A month later, team-mate and partner Vivianne Miedema also picked up the same injury.

ACL injuries usually take at least 10 months to recover from, meaning they missed the summer's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

Mead was out for the long run. Up next was the gruelling recovery process.

She has opened up about that process in a revealing Football Focus interview - which you can watch here:

Arsenal manager Jonas Eidevall believes his team's lack of diversity is a "problem" following criticism of an all-white women's squad photo last month.

The picture posted on social media included 27 players and boss Eidevall.

Fans criticised the club for having no black or ethnic minority players.

"Where we come from, north London, we are very proud of our community. It is a diverse community," said Eidevall.

"The women's first team has a very proud history of players coming from diverse backgrounds and made the club very proud of that.

"So us not having that diversity in the women's first team today, of course that is a problem."

Image source, Getty Images

While this result was overshadowed somewhat by the news which broke afterwards, it must not be forgotten how impressive Chelsea were on the pitch yesterday.

Here's all the goals from their thumping win at Aston Villa, which lays down yet another daunting gauntlet for their title rivals

BBC Two

Our television coverage of the early WSL kick-off today has just begun on BBC Two.

You can click the play button at the top of the page to watch, or switch on your TV and keep us as a second screen.

Emma Sanders
BBC Sport at Meadow Park

Image source, BBC Sport

"Why Manchester City are the team to beat" is the title in the match programme looking into Arsenal's opponents today.

City have looked supreme so far this season, playing with fluidity and consistency and rightly sit top of the table.

They signed just one player in the summer - Jill Roord - and she has hit the ground running.

Arsenal, on the other hand, haven't looked their best and could be in for a real test at Meadow Park.

Should they come away with a victory though, it would be a huge boost to their title hopes and could be the catalyst to kickstart their season properly.

It has been a strong start to the campaign for Manchester City, with three wins from four games. Their only draw came against Chelsea, when they were reduced to nine players.

City were knocked off the top of the WSL by the Blues yesterday, and given the scale of Chelsea's win it would take a win by four goals or more for Gareth Taylor's side to retake top spot.

Their forte this campaign has been at the other end, with the meanest defence in the division - just one goal conceded so far.

Image source, Getty Images

After a shock Champions League elimination and a home defeat in front of a record Women's Super League crowd, there are now signs of life in Arsenal's rebuild.

The Gunners showed their intentions over the summer with several big-name signings after slipping behind Manchester United in the race to catch Chelsea last season - Alessia Russo chief among them.

Now, after back-to-back WSL wins, Jonas Eidevall's side face Manchester City this weekend in the biggest test so far of their title credentials.

Can they be more clinical and serve up fewer gifts? How much can be expected of Beth Mead and Vivianne Miedema immediately? Is the continued absence of Leah Williamson, another ACL victim, going to remain a hindrance until her return in the new year? Can they turn it on in the biggest games to atone for the slow start?

You can read more in our feature here.

Image source, Getty Images

Emma Sanders
BBC Sport at Meadow Park

I walked into the ground with a group of Manchester City fans this morning who had travelled down via London St Pancras.

They were fairly confident of a result and were pleased to see the sun shining on the outskirts of London.

When they made their way into the ground they were met by a large Arsenal following and their fans were in fine voice as always.

Cloe Lacasse got a strong reception when she ran across to begin the warm-ups and Alessia Russo's name was being chanted.

Arsenal and Manchester City have been among the teams at the top of the WSL battling it out for silverware for a long time so they know this is a big game.

As ever, we'd love to hear your thoughts on everything WSL - from today's matches to who you think should be the next Chelsea manager.

Use the details above and get in touch.

Emma Sanders
BBC Sport

Emma Hayes will go down as one of Chelsea's greatest managers when she leaves the club at the end of the season - and her role in helping grow the Women's Super League must not be forgotten.

Widely regarded as one of the game's most influential coaches, Hayes was responsible for building a Chelsea dynasty that has seen them dominate English football for the past decade.

The 47-year-old has not only transformed Chelsea, but laid foundations to ensure the club can enjoy success for years to come.

You can read more of Emma Sanders' feature on Emma Hayes' departure here.

Image source, Getty Images

We now have a clear idea as to what that "new opportunity outside the WSL and club football" for Hayes is - as if that quote from Chelsea didn't give the game away.

Hayes is close to being confirmed as manager of the United States Women’s national team and would become the world’s highest paid female coach.

Discussions with Hayes and the USA are ongoing but the London-born coach could be signed on parity with men’s boss Greg Berhalter.

The USA won back-to-back world titles in 2015 and 2019 before a shock early exit in the last 16 of the Women’s World Cup this summer.

Hayes previously managed in the United States when she was head coach at Chicago Red Stars.

Firstly, the elephant in the room. Easily the biggest story in English women's football this season so far.

Chelsea manager Emma Hayes is to leave the Women's Super League club at the end of the season.

Hayes will pursue "a new opportunity outside the WSL and club football", said Chelsea.

The 47-year-old has been in charge of the Blues since 2012, and has guided Chelsea to six WSL titles, including four in a row, as well as five FA Cups and two League Cups.

Image source, Getty Images

Emma Sanders
BBC Sport at Meadow Park

There are two changes to the Arsenal side who beat Bristol City in their last WSL game.

Amanda Ilestedt returns in defence, replacing Laia Codina. Cloe Lacasse comes in for Noelle Maritz.

Arsenal XI: Zinsberger, Wubben-Moy, Catley, Little, Walti, McCabe, Foord, Pelova, Russo, Lacasse, Ilestedt.

Subs: D'Angelo, Beattie, Maritz, Cooney-Cross, Maanum, Mead, Miedema, Hurtig, Blackstenius.

Gareth Taylor also makes two changes for Manchester City as Leila Ouahabi comes in for the injured Alex Greenwood.

Lauren Hemp returns from suspension, meaning Filippa Angeldal drops to the bench.

Man City XI: Keating, Aleixandri, Fowler, Kelly, Hemp, Morgan, Ouahabi, Roord, Shaw, Hasegawa, Kennedy.

Subs: MacIver, Houghton, Coombs, Castellanos, Angeldahl, Park, Casparij, Mace, Blakstad.

Arsenal v Manchester City (12.30)

Liverpool v Leicester (14.00)

Tottenham v Everton (14.00)

West Ham v Bristol City (15.00)

Brighton v Manchester United (18.45)

Welcome to today's live coverage of the five matches in the Women's Super League.

We've got five games coming up for you, starting with a real humdinger between two of last season's top four, Arsenal and Manchester City.

Plus, we will have plenty more reaction and analysis of yesterday's seismic news that Emma Hayes is leaving her role as Chelsea manager at the end of the season.