The stage is set for a monumental showdown in the Continental Tyres Cup final, as Arsenal and Chelsea prepare to lock horns in a repeat of last season’s thrilling encounter.
The Gunners, current holders of the trophy, face a formidable Chelsea side determined to secure a historic quadruple in Emma Hayes’ final season. This clash promises to be a riveting spectacle of women’s football, with both teams eager to etch their names on the trophy.
In a repeat from last season’s final, Arsenal and Chelsea will compete on Sunday 31st March at Molineux Stadium.
In the semi-finals, the Gunners defeated Aston Villa 4-0 while Chelsea won at City 1-0.
The Continental Tyres Cup since its creation back in 2011 has been the property of three teams: Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City. Arsenal are the current holders and have won it six times. Manchester City have won it four times and Chelsea twice.
The teams with runners-up appearance are Birmingham City (three times), Lincoln, Notts County and most recently Bristol City who were hammered 6-0 by Chelsea in 2021.
In recent years, the tournament has become a place where many WSL sides can use squad rotation to give game time to their players who don’t get many minutes in the league. It certainly helps the teams who have depth in quality in their squad. Also in the last two seasons, the return of the Champions League group stage, with games played on the same days as the Continental Cup group games, means the teams that have qualified to the WCL group stage go straight into the quarter-finals of the League Cup. This is a huge advantage for the big teams as they only need to win two games to make the final.
Arsenal should have a very strong at the end of the month contrary to the Villa game where we had only four senior players on the bench and four youngsters. Emily Fox, Sabrina D’Angelo and Cloe Lacasse will all be back from the Concacaf Gold Cup. There are questions mark about Vivianne Miedema following her surgery and hopefully Amanda Ilestedt with be back.
Lina Hurtig has a problem where no return date can be set. Laura Wienroither might also be back from her ACL injury, as she seems to be in back in training.
Last season, Arsenal were the underdogs and triumphed 3-1 at Crystal Palace. This season, Arsenal won the League game at the Emirates Stadium 4-1, so they know how to beat Chelsea.
The two teams will meet at Stamford Bridge in the league in a week’s time for a title decider and that game’s winner will have a psychological advantage for the final.
Chelsea are going for the quadruple in Emma Hayes’ final season at the club and it is up to Arsenal to prevent the Chelsea manager doing it again like in 2006/07, when she was with us.