Arsenal v Manchester City: Women’s FA Cup – live | Women’s FA Cup

1 min Immediately, City hump it long; somewhere in Manchester’s tennis-club belt, Pep Guardiola winces.

1 min The players take the knee and off we go!

Email! “I wish that I didn’t agree with you Daniel,” begins Charles Antakin, but I think you’re right: Arsenal have looked pretty toothless of late. Despite of a couple of moments –Miedema scored a cracker a couple of weeks ago, and Mead sparkled briefly – only Williamson of the returnees has looked consistently sharp and anything like her old self at the back At the front. Russo always looks like she’s working hard, but otherwise the goal potential isn’t encouraging for Arsenal fans.”

Russo is one of those players who needs things built around her because her lack of gas is unusual in a centre-forward. At Arsenal, she’s one of many, whereas at United she was the star, and I think it’s taking her and her new teammates time to adjust.

Here come our teams!

Williamson tells BBC she didn’t waste her time off, spending time with family and going out Saturday nights. She’s “closer to Viv than to Beth” in terms of the mental toll her injury took: Miedema is taking time to trust her knee again, whereas Mead just got on with it. She’s such an honest and thoughtful interviewee, and the sooner she’s back at full throttle, the better.

Kelly is excited to be part of a great team, telling BBC that the forward line is great and they’re putting in the work on the training ground. She relishes these kinds of games, especially if they’re away from home.

A year or so ago, Stina Blackstenius was getting picked ahead of Miedema. Now, though, she’s left on the bench even with Miedema absent – signing Russo will do that to you – but I wonder if she’s considering her options. You can only keep fringe players happy if you’re picking up pots…

Young Masterchef has just finished, so our telly coverage is about to start. In the meantime, though, any BBC cooking show necessarily reminds me of this:

I’m really enjoying Chloe Kelly’s development. She’ll always be known as the Euros matchwinner, but there’s so much more to her than that these days. As such, it’s not surprising that PSG are reportedly interested in buying her, likewise that City want to keep her. I’d totally understand if she fancied living somewhere different and experiencing something new, but my bet is she prioritises football and stays exactly where she is.

Gareth Ainsworth is in the Sky studio. He looks every bit as groomed as ever.

Arsenal do, though, have a better bench. If this is tight, don’t be surprised to see Little, Walti and Blackstenius influence things.

I didn’t think I was going to say this when I started this blog, but I fancy City here. They’re finding it easier to score and stop the opposition scoring, but more than that they’ve a more settled style. Arsenal, on the other hand, are still searching for form and confidence so, though they’ve the means to win, City look better equipped to control proceedings.

Arsenal, meanwhile, might look to playing into and off Russo, but without Miedema they might be a creative player short – and they’ve been struggling to score this season. They’ll need something from Mead today.

Where is the game? My guess is City look to play through Hasegawa, with Kelly looking to attack the box and Hemp keeping the width. The full-backs will, I think, also get forward, with the attackers targeting space in behind and down the outside of the Arsenal centre-backs.

Good news for City, not dreadful news for Arsenal.

City, meanwhile, make two changes: at the back, Caspraiji is in for Kenndy, whle in midfield, Coombs replaces Angeldahl.

Lots to ponder in that Arsenal XI. Eidevall is without Miedema, perhaps injured – I’m sure we’ll soon find out what’s gone on there – and I imagine Victoria Pelova will play behind Alessia Russo, Kyra Cooney-Cross coming into the double pivot in her stead. Otherwise, the fantastic Katie McCabe returns, replacing Steph Catley at left-back, and Sabrina D’Angelo is in net ahead of Manuela Zinsberger.

Let’s have some teams…

Preamble