Arsenal W vs Everton W: FA WSL Clash at Emirates

Arsenal W vs Everton W at Emirates Stadium on 13 May 2026 brings together two sides heading in opposite directions in the FA WSL table, with Arsenal chasing a top-three finish and Champions League qualification while Everton look to consolidate in mid-table and avoid being dragged into late-season trouble.

Arsenal arrive in London sitting 3rd in the league on 45 points after 20 matches, boasting a formidable goal difference of +36. Their league form in the most recent five is “WDWWW”, underlining a sustained push at the top end of the table. Everton, by contrast, are 8th with 20 points and a goal difference of -12, their recent “LLLWW” run reflecting a season of streaks and inconsistency.

Arsenal’s home fortress and attacking depth

The Emirates has been a true stronghold in this campaign. In the league, Arsenal are unbeaten at home: 10 matches, 7 wins, 3 draws, 0 defeats. They have scored 27 and conceded only 6 in those home fixtures, averaging 2.7 goals for and just 0.6 against. Across all phases, they have kept 5 clean sheets at home and 10 overall, and have failed to score only once at the Emirates.

The season-long data paints Jonas Eidevall’s side (coach not in JSON, but tactical shape is) as a high-scoring, well-balanced unit. Across all phases they have 49 goals for and 13 against in 20 league games, averaging 2.5 goals scored and 0.7 conceded per match. Their biggest home win is a 7-0, and they have not lost at home at all this season; their only league defeat came away, a 3-2 scoreline.

Tactically, Arsenal’s preferred structure is clear from the lineups data: a 4-2-3-1 used in 9 matches, with occasional switches to 4-4-2, 4-3-3 and 4-1-4-1. The 4-2-3-1 base suits their attacking depth and allows them to flood the final third with technical quality.

Alessia Russo is the headline figure in the final third. With 6 league goals and 2 assists in 19 appearances (18 starts), plus 32 shots (22 on target), she is both volume shooter and focal point. Her 16 key passes and strong duel numbers (128 duels, 63 won) show she offers more than penalty-box finishing; she links play and occupies centre-backs in that lone-striker role.

Stina Blackstenius adds a different dimension. With 5 goals and 2 assists in 18 appearances but only 7 starts, she has been a highly effective rotation and impact option, scoring at a rate of roughly a goal every 93 minutes. Her presence from the bench gives Arsenal a genuine second-wave threat if the initial game plan stalls.

Behind them, Olivia Smith has emerged as a key creative midfielder. She has 4 goals and 2 assists in 17 appearances (13 starts), 19 key passes and a 77% pass accuracy. Her 19 tackles and 51 duels won from 93 underline her work off the ball in the press and counter-press, crucial in a 4-2-3-1 that relies on the advanced midfield line to win possession high.

Chloe Kelly offers directness from wide areas: 4 goals and 1 assist in just 299 minutes across 14 appearances is an outstanding per-minute return. Her 11 shots (6 on target) and 5 key passes, plus 80% passing accuracy, suggest efficiency rather than volume. She also brings a combative edge, with 4 yellow cards in limited minutes, which fits with Arsenal’s aggressive wide pressing.

Defensively, the numbers are elite. Only 13 goals conceded in 20 league games, with a maximum of 2 conceded at home in any single match (their “biggest goals against” at home is 2). The combination of a settled back line in the 4-2-3-1 and strong pressing from the front makes Emirates Stadium a daunting place for visiting attacks.

Arsenal’s penalty record this season in the league is 1 taken and 1 scored, with no misses. None of their key attacking players in the data are credited with a penalty goal, so the spot-kick threat appears spread or handled by others in the squad.

Everton’s away resilience versus structural fragility

Everton’s overall record is far less impressive: 6 wins, 2 draws and 12 defeats from 20 league matches, with 24 goals scored and 36 conceded. However, their away form is noticeably better than their home record. On the road they have 4 wins, 2 draws and 4 defeats, with 14 goals for and 14 against. That makes them a mid-table away side statistically, in contrast to their struggling home form (2 wins, 0 draws, 8 defeats, 10-22 on goals).

Across all phases, Everton average 1.2 goals scored and 1.8 conceded per match. Their heaviest away defeat is 3-1, and their biggest away win is 1-4, illustrating that while they can be opened up, they are also capable of explosive attacking performances when their transitions click.

The tactical data shows a preference for 4-4-2 (8 matches), with 4-2-3-1 and 4-1-4-1 each used 3 times. The 4-4-2 gives them two clear outlets up front but can leave them outnumbered in midfield against sides like Arsenal who load the central zones with a 10 and advanced 8s.

Honoka Hayashi is a central figure in Everton’s structure. From midfield she has 4 league goals in 17 appearances (14 starts), with 335 passes at 86% accuracy and 11 tackles, 11 interceptions. She provides both a ball-winning presence and a late-arriving threat from deeper areas. Her 8 shots, 4 on target, underline that when she does get forward, she is efficient.

Everton have managed 3 clean sheets this season (1 at home, 2 away) and have failed to score in 4 matches, split evenly between home and away. Their disciplinary profile shows yellow cards spread fairly evenly across the 16th–90th minute ranges, suggesting energy and aggression but also the risk of giving away set-pieces in key phases.

From the spot, Everton have taken 1 penalty and scored it, with no misses recorded in the team data.

Head-to-head: Arsenal dominance with a few tight contests

The last five competitive meetings, all in the FA WSL, show a clear advantage for Arsenal.

• On 13 December 2025 at Goodison Park, Everton W 1-3 Arsenal W. Everton were at home; Arsenal won.
• On 14 March 2025 at Walton Hall Park, Everton W 1-3 Arsenal W. Everton were at home; Arsenal won.
• On 6 October 2024 at Emirates Stadium, Arsenal W 0-0 Everton W. A draw in London.
• On 28 April 2024 at Walton Hall Park, Everton W 1-1 Arsenal W. A draw in Liverpool.
• On 20 January 2024 at Meadow Park, Arsenal W 2-1 Everton W. Arsenal were at home and won.

Over these five matches, Arsenal have 3 wins, Everton have 0, and there have been 2 draws. Arsenal have scored 9 goals and conceded 4 across those fixtures. Notably, the most recent two encounters in 2025 both finished 1-3 in Arsenal’s favour, while the 2024 meetings included two draws, indicating that Everton have, at times, been able to frustrate them.

Tactical patterns to watch

Arsenal’s 4-2-3-1 against Everton’s likely 4-4-2 or 4-2-3-1 sets up a key battle in central midfield. Arsenal’s double pivot plus a creative 10 (with players like Olivia Smith operating between lines) can overload Everton’s central pair, forcing their wide midfielders to tuck in and potentially leaving space for Chloe Kelly and other wingers to attack full-backs in isolation.

In transition, Everton’s best chance lies in exploiting the space behind Arsenal’s advanced full-backs. Their away record suggests they can score on the break, but they will need Hayashi and the forwards to be clinical, as chances may be limited against a defence that has conceded only 6 goals at home in the league.

Set-pieces could also be decisive. Arsenal’s card distribution shows a tendency to pick up yellows late in games, which could give Everton dead-ball opportunities if they can sustain pressure. Conversely, Everton’s higher goals-against numbers suggest vulnerability to Arsenal’s delivery and aerial threat in the box.

The verdict

All indicators point towards Arsenal W as clear favourites at Emirates Stadium. They are unbeaten at home, boast the league’s most imposing defensive numbers, and have multiple in-form attackers in Alessia Russo, Stina Blackstenius, Olivia Smith and Chloe Kelly. Everton’s away record is respectable and their recent head-to-head draws in 2024 show they can make this competitive, but the two 1-3 home defeats to Arsenal in 2025 underline the gulf when Arsenal find their attacking rhythm.

Everton will likely need a disciplined, compact display and efficient counter-attacking to take anything from this fixture. Arsenal, with Champions League qualification on the line and a chance to cement 3rd place or better, have both the tactical structure and individual quality to control proceedings and extend their strong run of form.