The end of the international break brings an early meeting for Chelsea and Arsenal in the FA Women’s Cup, the two WSL sides locking horns in the youthful stages of the fifth round, a place normally accustomed to watching the smaller, pluckier sides fall to the wayside.
Nevertheless, come Sunday the tournament will be without one of its biggest sides as the remaining teams are dwindled to eight when Chelsea host Arsenal at Kingsmeadow.
Arsenal head the fifth round against the soundtrack of nervous chatter about a dearth in clinical firepower and strikers’ instinct. They fell to a disappointing defeat to Manchester City in the league after being held to a goalless draw to West Ham, with Jonas Eidevall’s side subsequently dropping to fourth in the table.
