Game Details
Game: Arsenal Women v Aston Villa Women
Date: Sunday 9th May 2021
Competition: Barclays FA Women's Super League
Venue: Meadow Park
Time: 14:30 (BST)
Watch: The game will be streamed live on the FA Player.
Aston Villa Women head into the final game of the 2020/21 WSL season with their top-flight status hanging in the balance.
Marcus Bignot's side are currently on a four-game unbeaten run, but no wins within that streak means bottom-placed Bristol City remain alive.
The upturn in form began just over two weeks ago with a 0-0 draw at West Ham United.
Matt Beard's Bristol City side then came tothe Banks's Stadium four days later, overturning a two-goal deficit within the last 20 minutes to claw Villa back into the relegation battle.
Hearts would be broken once more, as a 96th-minute equaliser from Birmingham City cancelled out a Freya Gregory opener to throw Villa's future into further doubt.
Last weekend saw another stalemate with the Hammers, which brings us to a do-or-die final day.
Survival is still in Villa's hands, but eyes will undoubtedly be cast towards Bristol City's trip to Brighton & Hove Albion.
The Robins need three points as well as an Arsenal win to leapfrog Villa and stay in the top flight.
Sunday sees us visit one of the strongest sides in the top flight of English football.
Joe Montemurro's Arsenal side have all but secured third place for the season, sitting three points ahead of Manchester United as well as having a superior goal difference.
Despite seemingly not having a significant amount to play for, it's difficult to see the Gunners taking Sunday's affair lightly.
Vivianne Miedema, for example, will surely be incentivized by the prospect of winning this season's 'Golden Boot' award.
The Dutch forward is on 18 goals for the season going into Sunday's encounter, while Chelsea's Kerr is slightly ahead with 20.
Miedema, incidentally, opened the scoring against Villa en route to a 4-0 victory for the Gunners in February.
Form Guide
Here's how the two sides have fared going into Sunday's matchup...
Last Time Out
Marcus Bignot
Interim manager Marcus Bignot spoke to VillaTV following last weekend's draw with West Ham United...
“A point gained, given the circumstances" said the 46-year-old.
"We had the best moment in the game but unfortunately, we didn’t capitalise.
"A massive effort from everybody concerned.
"I believe we’ve done enough, but we’ve still got another game.”
“It was a game where we didn’t create enough, but we certainly had the best moment" said Bignot of Shania Hayles' effort early in the second half.
"We’ve had those moments in previous games.
"We’re so close. I’m immensely proud of them.
"We’ve got one to go. Let’s continue putting in the hard work and getting the rewards we deserve.”
“It’s what we do. What we’ve done so far is go four games unbeaten and get four points.
"We know that could have easily been eight points.
"That has given us confidence. It hasn’t knocked us. Let’s hope there’s some congratulations for us come next Sunday.”
Barclays Manager of the Month - April
Aston Villa Women interim manager, Marcus Bignot, has been nominated for the Barclays Manager of the Month award for April.
Having kicked off the month with a 3-1 league defeat at the hands of Everton, Bignot has overseen an unbeaten run of four games which started with a 0-0 draw against West Ham on April 20.
Heartbreaking finishes against Bristol City (2-2) and Birmingham City (1-1) followed, but the significant improvement in performances has not gone unrecognised.
Bignot will be hoping to seal the campaign by stretching Villa's streak to five games and keeping the Club in the top flight of women's football.
Congratulations, Marcus!
