Preview: Women’s League Cup final: Arsenal vs. Chelsea

Sports Mole previews Sunday’s Women’s League Cup final between Arsenal and Chelsea, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

London rivals Arsenal Women and Chelsea Women will face off in Sunday’s Women’s League Cup final at Molineux.

Arsenal are hoping to retain the trophy, while the Blues are looking to avenge last season’s final defeat to the Gunners.

Match preview
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In contrast to last season’s run to the trophy, Arsenal had to compete in the League Cup group stage following their elimination from the Champions League qualifying rounds.

Jonas Eidevall’s side picked up 11 points from four matches to top their group, before going on to claim 4-0 victories over London City Lionesses and Aston Villa in the knockout rounds.

Unfortunately for Arsenal, their quarter-final success against the Villans was followed by a heavy 3-0 league defeat to Chelsea, denting their hopes of winning the WSL title for the first time since 2019.

Although they returned to winning ways against Aston Villa last weekend, the Gunners remain six points adrift of Manchester City and Chelsea with five league games left to play.

With their title hopes hanging by a thread, the League Cup represents the only real chance for Arsenal to finish the season with a piece of silverware.

As the record winners of the competition, the Gunners are hoping to lift the League Cup trophy for the seventh time.

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Chelsea are dreaming of winning a quadruple in Emma Hayes’s final season before she leaves to become USA Women’s new head coach.

The Blues are sitting top of the WSL table on goal difference, while they are set to face Manchester United in the semi-finals of the FA Cup.

Chelsea are also in the last four of the Champions League after playing out a 1-1 draw in the second leg of their quarter-final clash with Ajax, securing a 3-1 aggregate victory to keep their European dreams alive.

They will now turn their focus to Sunday’s showpiece event at Molineux, where they will attempt to end their three-year wait for the League Cup trophy after losing in the final in the last two seasons.

Due to their Champions League participation, Chelsea have only had to negotiate two games to reach a fifth consecutive League Cup final, thrashing Sunderland 5-0 in the last eight before edging out Manchester City via a 1-0 scoreline.

The narrow semi-final win over the Citizens has contributed to Chelsea’s seven-game unbeaten run, ensuring they carry momentum into Sunday’s final.

Arsenal League Cup form:

Arsenal form (all competitions):

Chelsea League Cup form:

Chelsea form (all competitions):

Team News
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Arsenal midfielder Lia Walti is expected to be sidelined for several weeks after picking up a knee problem in training prior to last Sunday’s win over Aston Villa.

Laura Wienroither is making progress in her rehabilitation from an anterior cruciate ligament injury, but the Austria international remains unavailable for selection.

The Gunners are also unable to call upon the services of Viviane Miedema, Lina Hurtig and Teyah Goldie due to their respective injury issues.

As for the Blues, they are still having to cope without Maren Mjelde, Millie Bright, Aniek Nouwen, Mia Fishel and Sam Kerr.

Defender Nathalie Bjorn is a doubt after she was left out of the squad for the midweek win over Ajax due to injury.

After making a number of changes in midweek, Hayes is expected to recall Hannah Hampton, Niamh Charles, Melanie Leupolz, Sjoeke Nusken and Lauren James.

Arsenal possible starting lineup:
Zinsberger; Fox, Williamson, Wubben-Moy, McCabe; Little, Pelova; Mead, Maanum, Lacasse; Russo

Chelsea possible starting lineup:
Hampton; Perisset, Carter, Buchanan, Charles; Cuthbert, Leupolz; James, Nusken, Reiten; Ramirez

We say: Arsenal 1-2 Chelsea
In contrast to their opponents, Arsenal have had a full week to prepare for the final, which could provide them with a slight advantage.

However, Chelsea will be full of confidence after easing to a 3-0 win over the Gunners earlier this month, and while we expect Sunday’s contest to be much closer, we still think the Blues will do enough to clinch the silverware.

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