The players are in the tunnel and primed for kick off.

The conditions in west London look a little tricky with the wind swirling and rain falling.

Sonia Bompastor: “It is really great to play these games. At the end of my talk to the players I told them to enjoy the occasion. A big game, big crowd for a London derby.

“We want to approach the game with confidence and a good balance. Melvin is showing really good equaliy and was rady to start the game.

Renee Slegers: “I love these moments. We want to give everything on the pitch today.

“Clear heads today. The basics are going to be important today. We need to be really strong physically. Go out play and be free.”

The aforementioned underwhelming midweek nights for Arsenal and Chelsea.

I am sure Katie McCabe is raring to prove Arsenal wrong today after letting leave for free in the summer. She spent 11 years with the Gunners, before the club decided they wanted to find younger players.

Chelsea (4-3-3): Hampton; Carpenter, Brone, Buchanan, McCabe; Potter, Walsh, Kaptein; Thompson, James, Malard

Subs: Baltimore, Beaver-Jones, Bjorn, Buurman, Dragoni, Girma, Hamano, Nusken, Peng

Arsenal (4-2-3-1): Borbe; Fox, Williamson, Catley, Batlle; Stanway, Cooney-Cross; Baum, Caldentay, Little; Russo

Subs: Misa, Wubben-Moy, Foord, Smith, Reuteler, Kelly, Blackstenius, Cerci, Holmberg

It is rare to see Melvine Malard without a grin and she has a mountain of reasons to keep it that way. A wedding in June, a big-money move to Chelsea, a Ballon d’Or nomination and a first taste of a London derby against Arsenal at Stamford Bridge on Sunday. The France forward is loving life and the personality behind the smile that instantly connects her to teammates is infectious.

“Goals,” says Malard, with a laugh, when asked what keeps her happy. “Seriously though, it’s seeing the kids, the families, my family, in the stands. It is crazy. I love my life, I love my job, I’m happy with my wife and everything is good. I smile because of those things, because I’m happy.”