The FA has finally disclosed the full FA WSL schedule barely 17 days before the season starts.
It will be a busy one this year with the usual three competitions for the Gunners – the FA WSL, the FA Women’s Cup and the FA WSL Continental Tyres Cup.
Here are the fixtures planned (month by month)
August
Sun 19 August
- FA WSL Continental Cup Round 1
Arsenal v West Ham 2pm, Boreham Wood FC
This is certainly not a busy month as the team has a bye in the second round of the Conti Cup.
It’s an intriguing first game against the newly-promoted West Ham as Matt Beard has assembled a solid squad.
September
Sunday 9 September
- FA WSL Round 1
Arsenal v Liverpool 2pm, Boreham Wood FC
Sunday 16 September
- FA WSL Continental Cup Round 3
Lewes v Arsenal, Dripping Pan
Wed 19/ Thu 20 September
- FA WSL Round 2
Yeovil v Arsenal 7.45 pm, Dorchester Town FC
Sunday 23 September
- FA WSL Round 3
Arsenal v West Ham, 2pm Boreham Wood FC
The serious business starts with the League kicking off and the Gunners will have to hit the ground running against two teams that have spent the summer rebuilding in Liverpool and West Ham. Yeovil away is a potential banana skin as last year’s away 0-0 draw cost the Gunners a place in the Champions League.
October
Sunday 14 October
- FA WSL Round 5
Chelsea v Arsenal, 2 pm Kingsmeadow
Sunday 21 October
- FA WSL Round 6
Arsenal v Reading, 2pm Boreham Wood FC
Sunday 28 October
- FA WSL Round 7
Bristol v Arsenal, 3 pm Stoke Gifford
Another tough month with two games against Champions League contenders, first title holders Chelsea away and then the u-and-coming Reading. Bristol away should be an easier game to win.
November
Sunday 4 November
- FA WSL Round 8
Arsenal v Birmingham, 2 pm Boreham Wood FC
Sunday 18 November
- FA WSL Round 9
Everton v Arsenal, 2pm venue tbc
Sunday 25 November
- FA WSL Round 10
Arsenal v Brighton, 2 pm Boreham Wood FC
A relatively easier month in the League with a tough home game against Birmingham then two winnable games at Everton and home to Brighton.
December
Sunday 2 December
- FA WSL Round 11
Manchester City v Arsenal, 2pm Academy Stadium
Thursday 6 December
- FA WSL Continental Tyres Cup Round 4
Arsenal v Charlton, 7.45pm Boreham Wood FC
Wednesday 12 December
- FA WSL Continental Tyres Cup Round 5
Millwall v Arsenal, 7.30pm Dartford FC
The big game in the League, Manchester City away, then two Championship teams in the Continental Cup and hopefully qualification for the quarter-finals.
January
Sunday 6 January
- FA WSL Round 13
West Ham v Arsenal, 3pm Rush Green stadium
Wednesday 8/Thursday 9 January
- FA WSL Continental Cup quarter-finals
Sunday 13 January
- FA WSL Round 14
Arsenal v Chelsea, 2 pm Boreham Wood FC
Sunday 27 January
- FA WSL Round 15
Reading v Arsenal, 2pm, Adams Park
Three tough games in January, plus a potential Conti Cup quarter-final, we should have a good idea of the team’s potential after this month.
February
Sunday 3 February
- FA Women’s Cup Fourth Round
Tuesday 5 February
- FA WSL Continental Cup semi-final
Sunday 10 February
- FA WSL round 16
Liverpool v Arsenal 2pm, venue tbc
Sunday 17 February
- FA Women’s Cup Fifth Round
Thursday 21 February
- FA WSL Round 17
Arsenal v Yeovil, 7.30 pm Boreham Wood FC
Saturday 23 February
- FA WSL Continental Cup final
Arsenal will enter February hoping for a lot of success in the Cups, as there will be up to four cup ties in the month, including (potentially) only two days rest between games on two occasions. This is typical FA planning unfortunately.
March
Thursday 14 March
- FA WSL Round 18
Arsenal v Bristol, 7.30 pm Boreham Wood FC
Sunday 17 March 2019
- FA Women’s Cup Quarter Final
Sunday 31 March
- FA WSL Round 19
Birmingham v Arsenal, 2 pm Solihull Moors FC
Not a busy month due to internationals and Champions League ties. A winnable home game, a potential cup game and a tough away trip to Birmingham. Players will start to get tired at this time of the year.
April
Sunday 14 April
- FA Women’s Cup Semi-Finals
Sunday 21 April
- FA WSL Round 20
Arsenal v Everton, 2pm Boreham Wood FC
Sunday 28 April
- FA WSL Round 21
Brighton & Hove v Arsenal, Crawley Town FC
Only three games in April, one potential Cup semi-final and two winnable league games.
May
Saturday 4 May
- FA Women’s Cup Final
Sunday 12 May
- FA WSL Round 22
Arsenal v Manchester City, 2pm Boreham Wood FC
Only two games in May, the FA Cup final and a potential title decider against Manchester City. May might be exciting or just super boring depending on how the season pans out.
Arsenal Women will play between 25 and 32 games in the 2018/19 and will hopefully bring a trophy or three home along with Champions League qualification.