READING FC WOMEN will be seeking to pull off another shock when they travel to play top of the table Arsenal on Sunday.
The Royals have already made their mark on the title race felt this season after they handed champions Chelsea a 1-0 defeat at the Select Car Leasing Stadium thanks to Deanne Rose’s superb goal.
Kelly Chambers’ team have been in scintillating form sees them unbeaten in their last six Women’s Super League matches with five wins and a draw.
Although Sunday’s opponent’s Arsenal sit at the top of the table, they were on the end of a surprise result last weekend against relegation battling Birmingham City.
Birmingham went into the match at the bottom of the league with just one point to their name from 10 matches, while the Gunners had played nine games with eight wins and a draw.
However, it was the Blues who came out on top with a magnificent performance to put a dent in Arsenal’s title hopes.
Libby Smith put Birmingham ahead after just three minutes and Veatriki Sarri fouled the lead just before the break.
The Blues kept Jonas Eidevall’s side at bay and earned their first win of the season.
The north London side still have a four-point buffer at the summit, but have played one more game than second-placed Chelsea.
The Royals and the Gunners have already met once this season, at the Select Car Leasing Stadium in September.
Arsenal took all three points with a resounding 4-0 victory in what was a miserable start to the 2021/22 campaign for Reading.
Jen Beatie put Arsenal ahead before Beth Mead added to the score. Vivianne Miedema then struck a brace to seal the points for the visitors.
However, the Royals have turned their fortunes around since that September meeting and go into the game full of confidence and will hope to provide a much sterner test for their opponents this time around.
Reading manager Chambers said: “Now we look ahead to our next game, Arsenal, and having a week to properly build up certainly helps.
“We know what their result was, and many managers may say it won’t be a great time to play them, but we’ve proved what we can do out on the pitch.
“Just like Chelsea, not many expect us to get anything out of the game, but the run that we’re on and I know how hungry the girls are to get points on the board.
“We know it’s going to be a tough game for us, in terms of the squad we have available to us right now, but I know the team I put out there will fight in every moment and be right up for it.”
