Arsenal W vs Everton W: FA WSL Clash on May 13, 2026

Emirates Stadium stages a meeting of contrasting ambitions on 13 May 2026 as third‑placed Arsenal W host Everton W in the FA WSL. With Champions League qualification within touching distance for the hosts and mid‑table consolidation the realistic ceiling for the visitors, the stakes are asymmetrical but still sharp: Arsenal are chasing a near‑perfect home campaign, while Everton need a statement result to halt a worrying overall goal difference.

Context and stakes

In the league, Arsenal W sit 3rd on 45 points after 20 matches, with a formidable goal difference of +36 (49 scored, 13 conceded). Their form line of “WDWWW” underlines a side finishing strongly and firmly on course for Champions League qualification, as indicated in the standings description.

Everton W arrive in London 8th in the table on 20 points from 20 games, with a goal difference of -12 (24 scored, 36 conceded). Their recent “LLLWW” sequence shows a team capable of short winning bursts but undermined by defensive frailty and inconsistency.

There is no injury or suspension list data provided, so both coaches are assumed to have close to full squads available.

Arsenal W: dominant at home, refined attacking options

Across all phases this season, Arsenal’s numbers are those of an elite side. They have lost only once in 20 league matches (13 wins, 6 draws, 1 defeat) and boast the best defensive record in the data set: just 13 goals conceded at an average of 0.7 per game. At Emirates Stadium specifically, they have been close to flawless: 10 home games, 7 wins, 3 draws, 0 defeats, with 27 goals scored and only 6 conceded.

Their attacking output at home (2.7 goals per game) is backed up by a broad spread of contributors:

• Alessia Russo leads the way with 6 league goals and 2 assists from 19 appearances. Her 32 shots (22 on target) and 16 key passes mark her as the focal point of Arsenal’s attack, combining penalty‑box presence with link play.
• Stina Blackstenius has 5 goals and 2 assists in 18 appearances, despite starting only 7 times. With 26 shots and 14 on target in just 467 minutes, she profiles as a high‑impact option, either starting alongside Russo or coming from the bench to exploit tired defences.
• Olivia Smith adds a midfield goal threat and creativity, with 4 goals and 2 assists from 17 appearances. Her 19 key passes and 21 dribble attempts (11 successful) indicate a player who can break lines between midfield and attack.
• Chloe Kelly has chipped in with 4 goals and 1 assist in 14 games, offering direct running and end product from wide areas.

Tactically, Arsenal have predominantly lined up in a 4‑2‑3‑1 (used 9 times), with occasional switches to 4‑4‑2 and 4‑3‑3. The 4‑2‑3‑1 suits their current personnel: Russo as the central striker, a trio of creative and goal‑scoring attacking midfielders behind her, and a double pivot that protects a back four which has kept 10 clean sheets in 20 matches.

Defensively, Arsenal’s structure is robust. They have conceded just 6 goals at home (0.6 per game), failed to score only once at Emirates Stadium, and have yet to lose there. Their biggest home win of the season is 7‑0, underlining the potential for one‑sided scorelines if they establish control early. Their penalty record shows 1 taken and 1 scored this season, with no misses recorded at team level.

Discipline is generally controlled: yellow cards cluster late in games (notably between 61–90 minutes), but there are no red cards in the data.

Everton W: away resilience meets structural fragility

Everton’s season is defined by contrast between home and away. At home they have struggled badly (2 wins, 0 draws, 8 defeats, 10 scored, 22 conceded), but away from Liverpool they are more competitive: 4 wins, 2 draws, 4 defeats, with 14 goals scored and 14 conceded.

Across all phases, Everton’s overall record is 6 wins, 2 draws, 12 defeats. They average 1.2 goals scored and 1.8 conceded per game. The clean‑sheet count (3 in 20) and 36 goals conceded point to defensive issues that Arsenal’s attack will look to exploit.

Honoka Hayashi stands out as a key figure in midfield. She has 4 league goals from 17 appearances, with an 86% pass accuracy over 335 passes and 11 interceptions. Her blend of defensive work and occasional scoring threat makes her central to Everton’s attempts to control transitions and relieve pressure.

Everton typically set up in a 4‑4‑2 (8 matches), but have also used 4‑2‑3‑1 and 4‑1‑4‑1. Against a high‑scoring Arsenal side, a more conservative 4‑2‑3‑1 or 4‑1‑4‑1 is likely, with extra midfield coverage to protect a defence that has conceded 22 goals at home and 14 away. Their biggest away win is 1‑4, showing they can be dangerous when given space, but their heaviest away defeat (3‑1) suggests vulnerability against top attacks.

Everton have also taken one penalty this season and scored it, with no misses recorded at team level.

Head‑to‑head: Arsenal’s edge, but not total dominance

The last five competitive meetings between these sides, all in the FA WSL, show Arsenal with a clear advantage:

1. 13 December 2025, Goodison Park: Everton W 1‑3 Arsenal W – Arsenal win away.
2. 14 March 2025, Walton Hall Park: Everton W 1‑3 Arsenal W – Arsenal win away.
3. 6 October 2024, Emirates Stadium: Arsenal W 0‑0 Everton W – draw in London.
4. 28 April 2024, Walton Hall Park: Everton W 1‑1 Arsenal W – draw in Liverpool.
5. 20 January 2024, Meadow Park: Arsenal W 2‑1 Everton W – Arsenal home win.

Across these five matches, Arsenal have 3 wins, Everton have 0, and there have been 2 draws. Notably, both meetings in 2025 ended 1‑3 in Arsenal’s favour, while Everton have managed to avoid defeat in two of the last three away fixtures in this pairing (a 0‑0 at Emirates Stadium and a 2‑1 loss at Meadow Park).

Tactical outlook

Arsenal will look to impose themselves with a high share of possession, using their 4‑2‑3‑1 to stretch Everton horizontally and create central overloads. Russo’s movement between the lines, supported by Smith and Kelly, should test an Everton back line that concedes 1.8 goals per game on average.

Expect Arsenal’s full‑backs to push high, given Everton’s modest away scoring rate (1.4 per game) and the hosts’ confidence in their central defenders and double pivot to manage counters. With 10 clean sheets across all phases, Arsenal are comfortable holding a high line at home.

Everton’s best route into the game lies in compactness and transition. A deeper 4‑2‑3‑1 or 4‑1‑4‑1, with Hayashi anchoring or shuttling in midfield, could help them block central spaces and force Arsenal wide. From there, they will hope to exploit any turnovers with quick breaks, aiming for the kind of away performance that produced their 1‑4 biggest win of the season.

Discipline could be a factor: Everton’s yellow cards are spread across all phases of the game, with a notable concentration between 46–90 minutes, which may become relevant if they are forced into sustained defending.

The verdict

All available data points towards Arsenal W as strong favourites. They are unbeaten at home, score at a rate of nearly three goals per game at Emirates Stadium, and have conceded just six goals there all season. Their attacking depth, with Russo, Blackstenius, Smith and Kelly all contributing, contrasts sharply with Everton’s negative goal difference and limited clean‑sheet record.

Everton’s relatively balanced away goals for and against (14‑14) suggests they are more resilient on the road than at Goodison Park, and their recent head‑to‑head draws show they can frustrate Arsenal on their day. However, with Arsenal in strong form, chasing Champions League qualification and carrying a 3‑0‑2 unbeaten record in the last five meetings, anything other than a home win would be a surprise.

A competitive Everton performance is possible, especially if they execute a disciplined, counter‑attacking plan, but the underlying numbers favour Arsenal W to extend their impressive home run and reinforce their top‑three position.