Arsenal welcome Manchester United to the Emirates on Saturday night, with the Gunners looking for their first home win of the season and the visitors aiming to respond after a difficult start to the campaign.

Matchday three of the Barclays Women’s Super League brings an intriguing meeting between two sides experiencing very different starts to the campaign.

Arsenal remain unbeaten in their last 19 league matches, but Renee Slegers’ side are still searching for their first home victory of the season after being held to a goalless draw by newly promoted Crystal Palace.

For Manchester United, the pressure is already building. Eva Olid’s team have lost their opening two league fixtures and conceded seven goals, leaving them searching for an immediate response at the Emirates.

Arsenal's Strong Start Comes With a Finishing Problem

Arsenal have not lost a WSL match since October last year and could establish their longest unbeaten run in the competition with another positive result on Saturday.

Slegers has also avoided defeat in each of her first 20 home league matches as Arsenal head coach, recording 16 wins and four draws.

However, their impressive results have not been matched by their finishing so far this season.

The Gunners have attempted 43 shots across their opening two league fixtures and generated 3.9 expected goals (xG), but have scored just once.

Their shot conversion rate of 2.3% is among the lowest in the division, while Alessia Russo is yet to find the net despite recording nine attempts worth 1.61 xG.

Against Crystal Palace, Arsenal had 70 touches in the opposition penalty area and completed 30 shots, but were unable to break the deadlock.

The challenge now is turning territorial dominance into goals.

How Georgia Stanway Could Help Arsenal Control the Game

One of Arsenal’s most notable summer arrivals has already made an impact.

Georgia Stanway returned to the WSL after four seasons with Bayern Munich, where she established herself as one of Europe’s leading ball-progressors.

On her Arsenal league debut, Stanway attempted 114 passes, becoming the first midfielder in BWSL history to attempt at least 100 passes on their club debut.

She currently leads all midfielders in the league for successful passes, with 194, while her 17 involvements in shot-ending open-play sequences rank among the division’s highest.

Her ability to dictate possession and move the ball into dangerous areas could prove important against a Manchester United side struggling to prevent opponents from progressing up the pitch.

Manchester United's Defensive Problems Under the Spotlight

United have endured their worst start to a WSL campaign, losing their first two league matches for the first time since their debut season in 2019-20.

The Red Devils have conceded seven goals, including five in their defeat to Chelsea, while producing just six shots across their opening two games.

Against Chelsea, United managed only two attempts and recorded 0.20 xG, compared with Chelsea’s 25 shots and 2.94 xG.

Defensive errors have also been a concern. United have committed seven errors leading to shots, while conceding six of their seven goals from inside the penalty area.

Olid’s side will need to show greater defensive organisation and attacking confidence if they are to challenge Arsenal.

Arsenal's Recent Record Against Manchester United

Arsenal have avoided defeat in their last six WSL meetings with Manchester United, recording two wins and four draws.

United have also struggled at the Emirates, winning just once in six league visits.

That victory came in November 2022, when Alessia Russo scored a stoppage-time winner in a 3-2 triumph.

The two meetings last season ended goalless, meaning neither team found the net across 180 minutes of football.

Arsenal will be hoping to avoid another frustrating attacking display, while United will look to use the fixture as an opportunity to reset their campaign.

Arsenal vs Manchester United: What the Numbers Say

According to the Opta supercomputer, Arsenal have a 62.6% chance of winning Saturday’s fixture.

Manchester United are given a 17.6% chance of victory, while the draw was recorded in 19.8% of simulations.

The prediction reflects Arsenal’s unbeaten run and United’s early defensive problems, although the Gunners will need to be more clinical in front of goal.

With Arsenal chasing their first home win and Manchester United searching for their first points of the season, Saturday’s clash could prove significant for both sides.