England stars Lauren James and Fran Kirby doubts for Chelsea's huge WSL clash with Arsenal as Emma Hayes rules out record-signing Mayra Ramirez and defender Nathalie Bjorn

The Blues welcome the Gunners to Stamford Bridge on Friday night with just three points separating them in the Women's Super League title race, but Emma Hayes' side have got quite the injury list right now. Sam Kerr, Mia Fishel and Millie Bright are among the club's long-term absentees but Hayes confirmed in her press conference on Thursday that even more could be missing for this London derby.

"We'll have no Mayra Ramirez, no Nat Bjorn, maybe no Fran Kirby. Lauren James has been sick," Hayes told reporters, adding that defender Maren Mjelde and goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger are also still missing. "There's a big treatment room at this moment in time," she said.

Chelsea's attack in particular is suffering as a result of these injuries, with Kerr, Fishel and Ramirez all centre forwards. The Blues will be desperately hoping that James and Kirby can be fit to play, then, while Catarina Macario's return from an ACL rupture has come at a perfect time.

When Chelsea and Arsenal met in the reverse of this fixture at the Emirates Stadium in December, the Gunners emerged comfortable winners in a 4-1 rout.

Chelsea fans will have to wait until the team news is available ahead of kick-off on Friday evening to find out if James and Kirby can be involved. A win would at least temporarily put the Blues three points clear of Manchester City and six ahead of Arsenal with six games remaining in the WSL season.