Current holders Chelsea beat Arsenal in the 2020/21 final in December; the pair meet again in this weekend's semi-final; the winner will face Man City in the final, which will be played at Wembley on Sunday May 15
Sunday 17 April 2022 12:43, UK
There is a huge fixture in the Women's FA Cup semi-finals on Sunday as holders Chelsea take on Arsenal once again.
While Chelsea are still assessing their squad after the international break, but Pernille Harder will be available for selection. However, Fran Kirby remains sidelined.
Emma Hayes said: "Not everybody is in full training today because they've been on different travels. Pernille will be back, that I know, but with regards to team selection, I don't do that until matchday minus one because of the nature of international breaks meaning that some of them are still recovering from their games.
"Fran has been taking some time in the background, been suffering with a lot of fatigue. I don't have a definitive reason why that is, we don't know but we're trying to get to the bottom of it and taking the time we can to try and find the right solutions for Fran. This is something that's been ongoing and unfortunately until we get to the bottom of it Fran won't be available for selection."
Meanwhile, Arsenal have reported no new injury concerns after their players returned from international duty this week.
Sunday's semi-final showdown at Arsenal's home ground of Meadow Park is sold out - a fact Gunners manager Jonas Eidevall says is "normal".
He said: "I think it's good but I think it deserves a much higher attendance.
"I could see this game being in front of 30,000, 40,000 or 50,000 spectators. I am not going to jump around and say this is the best thing for us ever.
"I think it's normal, these are two of the best teams in the world playing in a really important game. If this game wasn't sold out given the capacity we have at Meadow Park, I would have been really, really worried.
"That would mean we are not moving in the right direction so this is the least that we could expect, it's nice but we need to grow more."
This weekend's Women's FA Cup semi-finals come off the back of an international break, and Chelsea boss Hayes says it will make for an unpredictable encounter.
She said: "This is what you go to work for, these moments, these privileged positions and there's nothing better than competing for a place to play in an FA Cup final.
"Playing against Arsenal we've had a lot of battles over the years, I certainly enjoy those games and always look forward to taking on another top team.
"I always think the game after international break makes things a lot more unpredictable. Normally you get a week build or you're in the momentum with your team.
"When you've only got one training session when you get back together and you have to try and re-build your momentum… you've seen so often after international break, team performances can take a little bit more time to gel.
Hayes also had high praise for Arsenal, with the two battling at the top of the WSL for much of the season. Chelsea were also 3-0 winners in the 2020/21 Women's FA Cup final in December and are determined to keep hold of their title.
"The players have really developed into being a really top, professional team that compete on all fronts every year and this is the place we want to be in, we want to be competing to make the FA Cup final again," Hayes added. "We're holders and we want to hold on to that.
"There've been good battles between us and Arsenal over the years. Arsenal have had a tremendous season, they really have. We've been going neck and neck in every competition with them the whole way, they're at home, sold out… we're going to have to suffer at points in the game and I'm sure with the threats we've got we will cause problems.
"It's important for the team to remember previous results are not indicative of future performance."
It was an enthralling 0-0 draw between the two sides in the WSL not too long ago...
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