This Sunday Wembley Stadium will play host to the Women’s FA Cup Final between Chelsea and Arsenal.
Last season’s FA Cup Final has been pushed back to December due to Covid, and marks the 100th anniversary of The FA’s ban on women’s football back in 1921.
After securing the WSL title and the League Cup last season, Chelsea are looking to secure a domestic treble with victory against an Arsenal side who have won a record 14 FA Cups.
Here are four standout names in the Chelsea side who could prove to be the game changers and cause The Gunners serious problems.
Sam Kerr
Embed from Getty ImagesLet’s start with the obvious.
It goes without saying that anyone who finishes third in the Ballon d’Or rankings is going to be a danger for any opposition, and Sam Kerr is no different.
Kerr finished the 20/21 season as a WSL league winner, League Cup Winner and Champions League runner-up and WSL golden boot winner with 21 goals in the league.
And the Australian has come flying out of the blocks again notching nine goals and three assists so far this season.
The Chelsea forward is going to be a massive threat to the Arsenal back line and will be crucial for the Blues.
Fran Kirby
Embed from Getty ImagesPlaying on the right of a forward three, Fran Kirby has been an instrumental cog in Chelsea’s recent success.
The England international managed 25 goals and 12 assists last season, and has continued that form into this season, already sitting on eight goals and eight assists in all competitions.
She has currently created the most chances of anyone in a Chelsea shirt so far this season, averaging 6.45 chances created per game.
With wing play being such a big part of Emma Hayes’s game plan, Kirby will need to be on her A-game, especially against an Arsenal side who have only conceded three goals in the WSL this season.
Millie Bright
Embed from Getty ImagesAnother integral part of Emma Hayes’s setup is the back three, and how they pass out from the back.
Chelsea’s philosophy of passing out from the back has proven effective, and Millie Bright, as well as her partners Magdalena Eriksson and Jessica Carter, has almost perfected the art of passing.
En-route to the final Chelsea didn’t concede a single goal in their FA Cup, keeping clean sheets in every single round.
Bright has made 476 passes this season and 20 into the opposition box, the most of any Chelsea or Arsenal player inthe WSL this season.
And Chelsea have continued to look incredibly strong at the back only conceding five goals in the WSL this season and have faced the fewest shots and shots on target.
But against the likes of Arsenal’s high pressing Beth Mead, can the Blues keep their defence tightened up?
Sophie Ingle
Embed from Getty ImagesOn the topic of defence, Sophie Ingle’s role as a holding midfielder has been vital to Chelsea’s defensive record being as good as it is.
With an 84.1 percent pass completion and 56.24 passes completed per 90 this season, the Welshwoman will be vital to Chelsea’s attempt to thwart Arsenal’s press.
A huge part of her game is her passes out to the wide centre backs, and she’ll have no margin for error up against a side like Arsenal, who play with three central midfielders and high pressing full backs.
For a full in-depth preview, check out Lee Jackson’s pre-match analysis
