Arsenal and Manchester City clashed in a highly anticipated Women's Super League match at the Emirates Stadium on February 8, 2026.

Arsenal's manager, Renée Slegers, made two changes to the starting XI from the team that won the FIFA Women's Champions Cup final the previous Sunday. Daphne van Domselaar stepped in for Anneke Borbe in goal, after Borbe sustained an injury in the Champions Cup final. Caitlin Foord also joined the lineup, replacing Stina Blackstenius. New signing Barbora Votikova was named on the bench for the first time. The Gunners' defense and midfield remained unchanged, while Beth Mead, Olivia Smith, and Alessia Russo joined Foord in the attack. Olivia Smith was expected to lead the line with Russo playing in the number 10 role.

The Arsenal lineup was as follows: Van Domselaar, Fox, Wubben-Moy, Catley, McCabe, Little (C), Mariona, Russo, Mead, Foord, and Smith. Substitutes included Votikova, Williams, Codina, Williamson, Holmberg, Harwood, Pelova, Maanum, and Kelly.

Manchester City's manager, Andree Jeglertz, chose to field an unchanged side. Vivianne Miedema faced her former club, playing alongside Bunny Shaw and Kerolin Nicoli.

The Manchester City lineup was: Yamashita, Rose, Knaak, Greenwood (C), Casparij, Blindkilde Brown, Hasegawa, Hemp, Kerolin, Miedema, and Shaw. The substitutes were Keating, Clinton, Coombs, Ouahabi, Coffey, Lohmann, Beney, Prior and Murphy.

Prior to the match, Manchester City held a significant lead in the Women's Super League standings. They were eight points clear at the top of the table. Manchester United's 2-0 victory over Leicester City on Saturday had narrowed the gap, but a win against Arsenal would allow City to extend their lead back to 11 points.

Over 30,000 fans were expected to attend the game at the Emirates Stadium.