Arsenal women v Everton women: Goals on the cards

Women's Football / Alsy / 28 February 2008 / Leave a Comment

Morgan in the driving seat- Alister Morgan previews the women's FA Cup match between Arsenal and Everton, live on Sky tonight

Arsenal Ladies probably allow themselves a wry smile whenever people discuss the merits of Arsenal's so-called 'invincibles'. After all, last season Arsenal Ladies finished the entire season unbeaten on the way to winning an unprecedented 'Quadruple' of the Uefa Cup, FA Premier League, FA Cup and Premier League Cup.

Now they face Everton in Thursday's Premier League Cup final showing few signs that their powers are on the wane. Arsenal Ladies remain unbeaten this season, top the Premier League and currently boast a perfect record (played 12, won 12) in the Premiership. Since the new millennium Arsenal have failed to win the League only twice and continue to dominate the women's game.

While few commentators give Everton a realistic chance of victory at Leyton Orient the game should be entertaining as, much like their male counterparts, Arsenal Ladies play the Game with verve and passion. Since they were formed in 1987 they've been coached by Vik Akers, (he combines the job with his duties as Kit Manager for the men's 1st team) and he's created the most successful club in English women's football. Resolute in defence and stunning in attack watching the Lady Gunners is rarely a boring affair while the standard of women's football, as witnessed in the recent World Cup, has improved greatly across the board.

An Everton win will send shockwaves across the women's game and secure their second League Cup in the process. The Blues are not without a few stars of their own so expect a keenly contested final. Rachel Brown is a regular between the sticks for England but I expect her to be pretty busy retrieving the ball from the back of the net more than once during the final as, to my mind, goalkeeping in the women's game still lacks genuine quality.

Elsewhere in defence Everton have a strong blend of experience and youthful talent. Lindsay Johnson and Becky Easton are very talented while Rachel Unitt, (with over 50 England caps) is one of the most recognisable players in the women's game.

Midfielder, Fara Williams, is Everton's best chance of success in Thursday's final. A tough-tackling centre-midfielder with technique, stamina and awesome dead-ball skills, Williams bagged 20 goals last season on the way to winning Player of the Season 2007 and International Player of the Year 2007. Strikers Jo Potter and Natasha Dowie (Iain Dowie's niece) will hope to trouble the Arsenal keeper but Williams is the one player Arsenal may not be able to contain.

The last time these two sides met Arsenal won 2-0 in Liverpool and the holders will feel justifiably confident about their chances again. The centre-half pairing of Faye White and Mary Phillip have over 100 England caps between them while Alex Scott and Anita Asante (also England regulars) complete the strongest defence in Europe.

Jayne Ludlow's midfield duel with Williams should make compelling viewing while Rachel Yankey and Karen Carney provide width and pace in attack. Every Arsenal player I've mentioned is an international but they also boast Kelly Smith, a player worth the admission fee alone.

A powerful attacker with a stunning ability to create and score goals from anywhere around the box Smith carried the England attack on her shoulders during their recent impressive World Cup campaign. How the FA could pay the equivalent of £40-a-day for her pains is simply beyond me but at least a global audience had the opportunity to view her genius. With the exception of Germany legend Birgit Prinz there's no better attacking force in the world...

Everton will know all about Smith but will not necessarily know how to stop her. I'd back the holder to win by two clear goals. If you back Arsenal -1.75 at [1.91] on the asian handicap you'll be quids win if Arsenal win by two. Alternatively, you can play it safe and just back Arsenal to win the game at [1.23] on the match odds though with Arsenal often as devastating in the female version of the game as in the male, we could have plenty of goals on the cards and its' [1.78] on over 3.5 goals which may be a decent selection.

Probable Teams
Everton: Brown, Johnson, Unitt, Whelan, Easton, Scott, Williams, Duffy, Evans, Dowie, Handley
Arsenal: Byrne, Scott, White, Asante, Phillip, Smith, Ludlow, Carney, Yankey, Sanderson, Fleeting