Former Manchester United captain Katie Zelem picks up a booking after only six minutes of action so has to be very careful for a long time for West Ham.

Madison Haley has a chance for Brighton, twisting and turning to create space inside the penalty area, only to fire wide from a central position 12 yards out.

Image source, Getty Images

With hardly five minutes on the clock it's gripping stuff already at the Emirates.

Man City rapidly work the ball up the pitch towards the Arsenal box, with Khadija Shaw shaping to shoot but being crowded out.

It falls invitingly to the feet of Vivianne Miedema to hit but her effort is blocked away by Lotte Wubben-Moy.

Freya Godfrey almost has a chance for London City Lionesses when she charges down a clearance from defender Honoka Hayashi, only for the ball to bounce off her leg and harmlessly go away for a goal kick.

Liverpool are trying to get numbers forward early on here and take the game to Aston Villa.

The hosts take the first corner of the game and cause a scramble as the ball drops inside the six-yard box, but Villa eventually manage to clear it.

After that early scare Arsenal have quickly settled into their rhythmic possession game.

Caitlin Foord escapes the attentions of Kerstin Casparij on the left with a brilliant feint before rolling a menacing delivery through the six yard box that Olivia Smith misses by a whisker.

Alex Brotherton
BBC Sport journalist at Emirates Stadium

Image source, Getty Images

The Emirates Stadium was on its feet for the pre-match anthem 'north London forever', but the mood would have been instantly soured had Vivianne Miedema scored against her old club with less than 20 seconds on the clock.

An early chance for Shekiera Martinez for the hosts inside the opening 60 seconds. She gets a shooting chance on her left foot and goes across goal, only to pull the ball just wide of the far post.

Alex Brotherton
BBC Sport journalist at Emirates Stadium

Now I don't want to jinx this, but we should be guaranteed goals today.

Both Arsenal and Manchester City have scored more than once in each of their last three WSL meetings (eight each).

However, no WSL fixture has ever seen both sides score at least twice four times in a row...

Former Gunner Vivianne Miedema looks to get champions-elect City off to a flying start but she drags her long range shot wide of the target.

The ball is rolling at the Emirates and across the Women's Super League.

Goals and entertainment please!

Image source, Getty Images

We're just under five minutes away from kick off across the country, which is just enough time to grab a brew and get comfy.

Alex Brotherton
BBC Sport journalist at Emirates Stadium

Image source, Getty Images

Arsenal players Taylor Hinds and Anneke Borbe - who was stretchered off in extra-time after a nasty collision - have just brought the Fifa Women's Champions Cup out onto the pitch to rapturous applause.

After missing the celebrations following the final, Borbe gets the chance to show off her goalkeeper of the tournament prize.

Fair point Gordon.

With Olivia Smith back from suspension and Beth Mead and Caitlin Foord both in good form, that's likely going to be the primary approach for the Gunners.

Image source, BBC Sport

Alessia Russo turns 27 today, and if she can bag against Manchester City she'll become the third Arsenal player to score a Women's Super League goal on her birthday.

Jodie Taylor did it in a 2-2 draw with Chelsea on the day she turned 31 back in May 2017.

Stina Blackstenius then celebrated her 26th birthday by equalising against Manchester United, who had led through one Alessia Russo.

In their quest to keep pace with the top three, Arsenal will want more than a draw today - can Russo be the one to make things happen?

Alex Brotherton
BBC Sport journalist at Emirates Stadium

The pitch at the Emirates Stadium is looking a little worn to say the least.

Both goalmouths are looking dry and bare - Arsenal's Premier League match against Sunderland less than 24 hours ago won't have helped.

It'll be interesting to see whether the surface has an influence on the game.

Image source, Getty Images

• Gareth Taylor has lost nine of his 14 WSL games in charge of Liverpool (W1 D4) – it took him 61 league matches to suffer as many defeats as Manchester City manager, and he didn’t taste 10 losses until his 64th game in charge.
• Aston Villa have lost both of their past two WSL matches and are seeking to avoid suffering three successive defeats for the first time this season. Indeed, the last time that the Villans went on a longer losing streak in the competition was between January and March last year (6).
• Aston Villa have won their past two league meetings with Liverpool and following a 3-0 success in the reverse fixture in December, will be aiming to complete a WSL double over the Reds for the first time.

Image source, Getty Images

Why did decorated France forward Delphine Cascarino swap the sun of San Diego for top flight debutants London City Lionesses?

"They are very ambitious," she told a special episode of BBC Sounds' Women's Football Weekly. "They want to qualify for the Champions League - then win it.

"Big ambition, but I like that."

It may still be a while before we see Cascarino in Lionesses colours - she's still set for another few weeks on the sidelines.

In the meantime, you can listen to her on the Women's Football Weekly London City special on BBC Sounds.

Manchester City

Image source, Getty Images

Unsurprisingly table toppers Man City are the Women's Super League leading scorers so far this term, with 41 goals from 14 games, which averages out to just under three per game.

That's eight more than next highest scorers Man Utd, with the Blues having played a game less.

Not only that, City have carved out a healthy habit of sharing the goals around too.

Khadija Shaw leads the Golden Boot race yet again with 14 goals (plus four assists), twice as many as her closest challenger - Aston Villa's Kirsty Hanson (7 goals).

While Vivianne Miedema (6 goals, 5 assists) and Kerolin (6 goals, 3 assists) also sit inside the top five of the standings.

With so many threats across the pitch it makes you wonder just how anyone can stop the City goal machine. Over to you, Arsenal...