So I sat down yesterday to figure out Arsenal Women’s likely starters against Real Madrid Femenino. You know how it is – coaches drop hints, players get knocks, and patterns emerge if you stare at the last five matches long enough.
First Step: Check Recent Lineups
Dug through the club app for recent team sheets. Noticed our gaffer kept rotating between Zinsberger and D’Angelo in goal. But Zinsberger started both UWCL group games so I’m betting she gets it again. Defensively that left-back spot keeps changing though.
Injury Detective Work
Scrolled through like three weeks of training pics on Twitter. No sign of Williamson or Pelova anywhere – that’s bad news. Catley was stretching separately last week too. Then I remembered Tim Stillman’s podcast mentioning Blackstenius’ fitness test this week.
So here’s how my brain pieced it together:
- Keeper’s easy – no reason to bench Zinsberger
- McCabe practically glued to left-back now Catley’s iffy
- Russo gets the nod with Blackstenius maybe coming off bench
- Midfield gap from Pelova? Throw in Little beside Walti for experience
Realized I needed width against Madrid’s press. Foord destroyed them last time so she’s automatic on left. On right? Put Mead down in pen – she’s been fire lately and Madrid’s left-back ain’t quick. Stina-Foord-Mead front three writes itself really.
Final headache was centre-backs. Beattie played full 90 last Sunday but Wubben-Moy was rested. Code cracked: Wubben-Moy and Laia Codina start. Leah partners Wubben-Moy when fit so makes sense.
Scratched it all out on a beer-stained notepad:
My final expected lineup:
- GK: Zinsberger
- DEF: McCabe – Codina – Wubben-Moy – Fox
- MID: Walti – Little
- ATT: Foord – Russo – Mead
Real question is whether the gaffer thinks same way! Should’ve seen my living room floor – team sheets everywhere like some mad detective board. Probably overthought it but hey, that’s half the fun.