Renée Slegers has named her Arsenal Women starting XI for Sunday’s Women’s Super League clash with Crystal Palace at Emirates Stadium.
The Arsenal boss has made three changes from the side that beat Brighton 1-0 on the opening weekend.
Lotte Wubben-Moy, Kyra Cooney-Cross and Chloe Kelly all come into the starting line-up, while Steph Catley, Kim Little and Olivia Smith drop to the bench.
Deadline-day signing Élisa De Almeida is also named among the substitutes and could make her Arsenal debut this afternoon.
ReadArsenal had expected Slegers to consider keeping faith with her opening-day team in our Arsenal Women predicted XI against Crystal Palace, but the manager has opted to use the depth available to her.
Arsenal Women starting XI vs Crystal Palace
Arsenal XI: Misa Rodríguez; Emily Fox, Leah Williamson, Lotte Wubben-Moy, Ona Batlle; Kyra Cooney-Cross, Georgia Stanway; Mariona Caldentey, Lisa Baum, Chloe Kelly; Alessia Russo.
Substitutes: Anneke Borbe, Élisa De Almeida, Steph Catley, Smilla Holmberg, Kim Little, Olivia Smith, Frida Maanum, Caitlin Foord, Stina Blackstenius.
The defensive change sees Wubben-Moy partner Williamson after Catley started alongside the England international at Brighton.
Cooney-Cross is also rewarded with her first league start of the season.
The Australia international produced a spectacular long-range goal during Arsenal’s 5-1 pre-season victory over Charlton, something ReadArsenal covered in our report from Arsenal’s dominant pre-season finale.
Chloe Kelly comes into Arsenal attack
Slegers has also changed her attacking combination.
Kelly starts alongside Baum and Russo, with Mariona operating behind the central striker.
Baum retains her place after scoring the winner on her competitive debut against Brighton.
That means Olivia Smith drops to the bench despite starting the opening fixture.
Slegers therefore has significant attacking options available if Arsenal need to change the game, with Smith, Foord, Maanum and Blackstenius all among the substitutes.
The selection demonstrates the competition inside an Arsenal squad that underwent major changes during the summer. ReadArsenal’s Arsenal Women season analysis looked at the extent of that rebuild and why expectations are so high this season.
De Almeida could make Arsenal debut
De Almeida’s inclusion is another notable development.
The France international was unavailable for last weekend’s Brighton victory after joining Arsenal from Paris Saint-Germain shortly before the fixture.
She is now ready to be involved after a full week of training, although Wubben-Moy has been preferred from the start.
The match kicks off at 2.45pm BST at Emirates Stadium.
Supporters can find the broadcast information in ReadArsenal’s Arsenal Women vs Crystal Palace TV and live-stream guide.
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