Arsenal Women will be without Jenna Nighswonger once more for Sunday’s trip to Crystal Palace due to injury, but Victoria Pelova is set to return after missing the midweek win over Leuven with illness.

The Gunners end 2025 with a Subway Cup quarter-final against the WSL2 side, who were relegated from the top flight last season.

Arsenal head coach Renee Slegers previewed the Eagles’ threat: “What we've seen of them so far, if I summarise, is that they like to spend time in the attacking half and they press really high, very aggressive high pressure. 

“But then from their own half they can be quite direct getting into the attacking half. So that's what we're expecting. Again, preparing for different scenarios because they might choose to do something differently on Sunday, but that's what we've seen of them so far and they've been effective, of course, especially the last five games.”

Arsenal have won five of their last five games in all competitions after a difficult start to the season, and the Gooner Fanzine asked Slegers to reflect on what’s been an improved block of results.

“We're not done yet, so it feels strange to review the block, there's one important game left to play in two days. But I think at the start of the block, I mentioned that these games are probably going to look different because we face different types of opposition, so that also means it needs something else from us. 

“And I think as a whole, we've adjusted that really well. Both the players on the pitch and everyone in the background including the analysts and all the other coaches. So that's been good, that's been working well, but there's been really good investment from the players.”