Everton Women vs Arsenal: WSL Match Preview

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Sorensen out to 'get something' out of the game as he addresses injuries

Brian Sorensen insists the side he sets up away at Arsenal will be going to get something out of the game rather than simply defend for 90 minutes.

Speaking to the media ahead of the clash at the Emirates Stadium, the Everton Women boss also addressed the mounting injuries within the squad and says there is no quick fix to the situation, although they are working hard on solutions.

But despite the current state of affairs, Sorensen will be sending his troops out to do what they work on training, even if it is against the Gunners.

"Arsenal are a really well-coached side that are organised and hard to play against," he said. "They have extremely good talents in the squad, key players that know the game super well, having played a lot of seasons in this league and together.

"It is probably if not the toughest, one of the toughest teams we can face and then on top of that it's at the Emirates Stadium.

"It is a big task, but as always we prepare to go out there to set the team up to get something out of the game and not set up the team to defend for 90 minutes.

"That's not our identity and not what we want to do."

If Everton are to avoid three league defeats in a row, they will have to do so without Aurora Galli and Inma Gabbaro, both of whom are out for the season after suffering anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries, while Melissa Lawley remains sidelined with a fracture elbow and Karen Holmgaard is not yet ready to return.

Rikke Madsen will also be unavailable due to her pregnancy.

And with one of the league's smallest squads, Sorensen will be leaning on young talents such as Issy Hobson, who burst onto the scene with an last-minute equaliser against Arsenal last season, and Macy Settle, who was this week recalled from her loan move at Blackburn Rovers.

When quizzed about injuries and possible free agents, Sorensen admitted the club were working hard on solutions but warned that there are no immediate quick fixes.

"With the level we compete on, there's not a free agent running around that can come in and help us," he said.

"We are in the process of looking at players because we really need that."

"The reason we get hurt so much is because our squad is so little so if four or five people are out, I don't think many other clubs will notice that or feel that but when we have that, it really starts to impact what we can bring off the bench."

The Opposition

Sitting fourth in the WSL and with a place in the Champions League group stages, Jonas Eidevall has not made as many signings as other clubs in the summer, but has added names such as Ballon d'Or nominee Mariona Caldentey, Swedish international forward Rosa Kafaji, and goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar to an already strong side.

Norwegian midfielder Frida Maanum has been named a nominee for WSL Player of the Month following an impressive start to the season which has seen her find the net twice in two games, including the winner away at Leicester City.

And Eidevall will need all his guns firing if he is to compete on multiple fronts this season, with a showdown against Bayern Munich next up for the Londoners after the visit of the Toffees.

Previous Meetings

if Everton are to get a result at the Emirates Stadium in what will be their 100th WSL away fixture, then they will need to change what has been a one-sided rivalry, with the Blues having tasted defeat on the last ten visits to Arsenal.

Indeed, the only WSL victory Sorensen's side hold over Arsenal came in a 3-1 home win in 2011.

The last league win away at Arsenal saw the Toffees end their hosts' 108 league game unbeaten record when goals from Fara Williams, Michelle Hinnigan and Jill Scott secured a 3-0 victory.

Katja Snoeijs will make her 50th Everton appearance if she features. The Dutch forward has a decent record the weekend's opponents, having scored twice in her last three WSL matches against Eidevall's side.

The weekend's fixture may also have a bit of extra spice as the last time these two sides met in competitive action Hobson's equaliser at Walton Hall Park effectively ended Arsenal's slim chances of catching eventual WSL champions, Chelsea.

Everton Women travel to Arsenal on Sunday, 6 October.

Kick off at the Emirates Stadium will be at 2pm (BST).