Arsenal or Chelsea: where will the WSL trophy end up?

Arsenal. They are one point behind Chelsea with both sides having played 18 games but their remaining four fixtures are, on paper at least, more winnable than those of their rivals. Intriguingly Tottenham will have a big say in the title race. While Chelsea play them on Sunday and then again on Thursday, the north London derby takes place on Wednesday 4 May. Although Chelsea should win at Birmingham on 1 May, their tricky concluding home game of the campaign comes against a Manchester United side challenging Manchester City for third place – and the final Champions League slot. Things seem more straightforward for Arsenal’s manager, Jonas Eidevall: after Sunday’s trip to Everton, Arsenal are home to Aston Villa and Spurs before visiting West Ham on the final day.

Convincing. Chelsea are seeking a sixth straight WSL win on Sunday and Arsenal a fifth. League defeats are rare for both clubs: Arsenal have lost only one all season, Chelsea are furious with themselves for suffering two. Perhaps significantly, one of those reverses came when they went down 3-2 at Arsenal in September. Earlier this month though Chelsea exacted revenge by prevailing 2-0 in an FA Cup semi-final at their title rivals’ Borehamwood home.

Chelsea’s Emma Hayes, albeit only slightly. The 45-year-old manager has won the WSL four times with Chelsea, most recently last spring. Having succeeded Joe Montemurro at Arsenal last summer, Eidevall is experiencing his first season in England. Not that he is exactly a novice: the 39-year-old Swede won the Damallsvenskan three times during his time in charge of Rosengard. During her decade in west London Hayes has constantly refreshed her squad and evolved tactically. This season Chelsea have shifted from a 4-2-3-1