Aston Villa Women return to Women’s Super League action against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday as Natalia Arroyo searches for her first league win of the season.
Villa travel to Brisbane Road after finally securing their first competitive victory of 2026/27 with Wednesday’s 2-0 Subway Players Cup win at Nottingham Forest.
Arroyo rotated heavily for that game, creating an obvious opportunity to restore several regular starters against an unbeaten Tottenham side.
Our Tottenham Women vs Aston Villa Women TV guide confirms Sunday’s game kicks off at 2pm BST and will be shown live on Sky Sports+.
Here is how Villa could line up.
Aston Villa Women predicted XI vs Tottenham
Predicted XI: Okuma; Wilms, Patten, Harviken, Maritz; Parker, Kendall; Grant, Hijikata, Murphy; Vangsgaard.
GK: Akane Okuma
Okuma should continue in goal.
The Japan international has started every WSL match so far and produced another solid performance during the 1-1 draw at Brighton.
She was also retained for the cup victory over Forest, suggesting Arroyo has little intention of rotating her goalkeeper.
RB: Lynn Wilms
Wilms should return after being rested from the starting XI in midweek.
She produced the decisive moment against Brighton by scoring directly from a corner in the 89th minute.
Tottenham have also identified Wilms as one of Villa’s main players to watch, highlighting her attacking deliveries and set-piece quality in their official opposition preview.
CB: Anna Patten
Patten looks certain to retain her place.
The Villa captain started against Nottingham Forest and has become central to Arroyo’s defensive structure since returning to the XI against Manchester City.
CB: Mathilde Harviken
Harviken was given a partial rest in the cup after starting all three WSL fixtures.
She should return alongside Patten.
LB: Noelle Maritz
Maritz has featured consistently during the opening weeks and should complete the back four.
Tottenham will offer considerable pace in wide areas, making her experience particularly useful.
Parker and Kendall could reunite in midfield
Lucy Parker should return after starting on the bench against Nottingham Forest.
She partnered Lucia Kendall during the Brighton draw before Justine Kielland replaced her after 61 minutes.
Kendall started again in midweek but was withdrawn shortly after the hour, which should leave her fresh enough to continue.
Arroyo could instead turn to Kielland, but Parker and Kendall offer the balance Villa used in their most recent WSL fixture.
RW: Chasity Grant
Grant came from the bench to score Villa’s second goal at Forest and should return to the starting XI.
She has started all three league games and provides Villa with one of their strongest direct attacking threats.
No.10: Maya Hijikata
Hijikata made an immediate impact from the bench on Wednesday.
She replaced Georgia Mullett after 63 minutes and opened the scoring only three minutes later.
That should strengthen her case for returning to the role she occupied against Brighton.
LW: Lily Murphy
Murphy started both the Brighton and Forest matches, suggesting she remains firmly in Arroyo’s plans.
Her ability to carry the ball could be important against a Tottenham side that have started the WSL season strongly.
ST: Amalie Vangsgaard
Vangsgaard should return to lead the attack after beginning the Forest victory on the bench.
She started Villa’s opening three WSL games and scored against Manchester City earlier this month.
The confirmed Aston Villa Women lineup against Brighton shows the core Arroyo trusted in Villa’s last league outing, while six of those starters were either rested or used from the bench at Forest.
That makes a return towards the Brighton XI the most logical approach on Sunday.
Aston Villa have opportunity to build momentum
Villa remain without a WSL victory after draws with Chelsea and Brighton and defeat to Manchester City.
However, the midweek win has at least given Arroyo’s rebuilt squad something positive to carry into the weekend.
Our Brighton 1-1 Aston Villa Women match report showed Villa are capable of competing away from home, while the Tottenham team-news update details the challenge waiting in north London.
Arroyo now has to decide whether restoring her strongest available league XI can finally turn those competitive performances into three points.
