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

Emirates Stadium hosts a meeting of contrasting ambitions on 13 May 2026 as third‑placed Arsenal W welcome Everton W in the FA WSL. For Arsenal, it is about locking in Champions League qualification and keeping pressure on the top two; for Everton, safely in mid‑table but far from comfortable, it is about proving they can live with the division’s elite away from home.

Context and stakes

In the league, Arsenal W arrive in an outstanding position. They sit 3rd with 45 points from 20 matches, boasting a goal difference of +36. Their record across all phases is 13 wins, 6 draws and just 1 defeat, with 49 goals scored and only 13 conceded. Champions League qualification is already flagged in their standings description, but with form of “WDWWW” in the league and a longer‑term form line of “WWDDLWWDDWWDWWWWWWDW” across all phases, momentum remains firmly on their side.

Everton W, by contrast, come into this fixture 8th in the table with 20 points from 20 games and a goal difference of -12. Their league form line of “LLLWW” underlines a streaky season: 6 wins, 2 draws and 12 defeats, with 24 goals scored and 36 conceded. They are far stronger away than at home, but they remain vulnerable against high‑scoring sides.

Arsenal W: structure, firepower and control

Arsenal’s statistical profile is that of a dominant, possession‑heavy side that can hurt opponents in multiple ways.

In the league, they average 2.5 goals for per game and just 0.7 against across all phases.
At Emirates Stadium they are unbeaten: 10 home matches, 7 wins, 3 draws, 27 scored, 6 conceded.
They have kept 10 clean sheets in 20 league games overall, split evenly between home and away.

Jonas Eidevall’s preferred framework is clear from the lineups data: a 4‑2‑3‑1 used in 9 matches, with occasional switches to 4‑4‑2 and 4‑3‑3. The 4‑2‑3‑1 maximises their attacking depth while keeping a double pivot to protect a defence that has conceded only 6 goals at home.

Key attacking threats are spread across the front line:

Alessia Russo has 6 league goals and 2 assists from 19 appearances, with a strong 7.45 average rating. Her 32 shots (22 on target) and 16 key passes show she is both finisher and facilitator.
Stina Blackstenius adds 5 goals and 2 assists in only 467 minutes, a prolific return from largely rotational minutes (7 starts, 11 substitute appearances).
Olivia Smith, from midfield, contributes 4 goals and 2 assists, with 19 key passes and a 7.31 rating, underlining her creative influence between the lines.
Chloe Kelly has 4 goals and 1 assist from just 299 minutes, plus a high pass accuracy of 80%. She offers explosive impact, though her 4 yellow cards hint at an aggressive edge.

Arsenal’s biggest home win of the season is 7-0, and they have failed to score at home only once. With an average of 2.7 goals per home game and a best home scoreline of 7-0, they are equipped to overwhelm opponents early. Defensively, 5 home clean sheets and only 0.6 goals conceded per home match speak to a back line that is rarely stretched for long spells.

Discipline is generally controlled: yellow cards are spread through the game, with the highest concentration late on (76-90 minutes). They have not received a red card in any time range.

From a tactical point of view, expect Arsenal to:

Use Russo as a focal point, supported by dynamic runners like Smith and Kelly.
Push full‑backs high in the 4‑2‑3‑1, trusting their central defenders and double pivot to manage transitions.
Rotate between Russo and Blackstenius to maintain intensity against an Everton defence that concedes heavily on its travels.

Everton W: away resilience versus structural fragility

Everton’s season has been defined by inconsistency and a clear split between home and away performance.

In the league, they have 4 away wins, 2 draws and 4 defeats from 10 matches, scoring 14 and conceding 14.
At home they have been far poorer: 2 wins and 8 losses, with 10 scored and 22 conceded.

Across all phases, they average 1.2 goals for and 1.8 against per match. Their clean‑sheet count is modest (3 in 20), and they have failed to score in 4 league games.

Formationally, Everton have leaned on a 4‑4‑2 (8 matches), with 4‑2‑3‑1 and 4‑1‑4‑1 also used. The 4‑4‑2 can give them width and a compact mid‑block, but against a side like Arsenal it risks leaving the midfield outnumbered, especially if the front two do not drop.

Honoka Hayashi stands out as a key figure:

4 league goals from midfield in 17 appearances.
335 passes at 86% accuracy, plus 11 tackles and 11 interceptions, making her central to both build‑up and defensive work.

Everton’s biggest away win is 1-4, showing they can be dangerous when transitions fall their way. However, their biggest away defeat is 3-1, and they concede an average of 1.4 goals per away match. With only 2 away clean sheets, they are likely to face sustained pressure at Emirates Stadium.

Disciplinary data shows a high spread of yellow cards in the second half (46-90 minutes), suggesting fatigue or late‑game stress. Like Arsenal, they have not received a red card.

Tactically, Everton will probably:

Sit in a medium or low block, especially if they retain the 4‑4‑2.
Rely on Hayashi’s passing to launch counters and on wide players to exploit any space behind Arsenal’s advanced full‑backs.
Accept long spells without the ball, focusing on set‑pieces and breakaway chances.

Head‑to‑head: Arsenal dominance with a recent twist

The last five competitive meetings in the FA WSL underline Arsenal’s superiority:

On 13 December 2025 at Goodison Park, Everton W 1-3 Arsenal W – Arsenal won.
On 14 March 2025 at Walton Hall Park, Everton W 1-3 Arsenal W – Arsenal won.
On 6 October 2024 at Emirates Stadium, Arsenal W 0-0 Everton W – draw.
On 28 April 2024 at Walton Hall Park, Everton W 1-1 Arsenal W – draw.
On 20 January 2024 at Meadow Park, Arsenal W 2-1 Everton W – Arsenal won.

Over these five league games, Arsenal have 3 wins, Everton have 0, and there have been 2 draws. At home, Arsenal’s recent results against Everton are 0-0 at Emirates Stadium and 2-1 at Meadow Park, showing that while Arsenal usually take points, Everton can make life awkward.

Penalties and fine margins

Both teams have taken 1 penalty in the league this season and scored it, with no misses recorded at team level. None of the highlighted key players has scored or missed a league penalty according to the individual data, so the spot‑kick threat is more collective than tied to a single specialist.

The verdict

All indicators point towards Arsenal W as clear favourites at Emirates Stadium. They are unbeaten at home, average nearly three goals per game there, and have one of the best defensive records in the division. Their attacking depth, with Russo, Blackstenius, Smith and Kelly all contributing goals, gives them multiple ways to break down an Everton side that concedes frequently.

Everton’s away record is respectable and their recent four‑game winning streak earlier in the season shows they can string results together, but their overall defensive numbers and league form of “LLLWW” suggest they are more likely to be hanging on than dictating.

If Everton can compress the game, protect Hayashi’s influence in midfield and be ruthless on the counter, they have a route to competitiveness. However, the most logical expectation, based on league standings, form and head‑to‑head history, is an Arsenal win, with the hosts likely to control territory and chances for long spells in London.