Our Vitality Women's FA Cup journey begins today as we host Leeds United in the fourth round at Meadow Park.
Having won the competition a record 14 times, the Women's FA Cup had been a regular fixture in our trophy cabinet. Seven years on from our last FA Cup lift, we’ll be gunning for a good start to this year’s campaign.
Kicking off at 2pm (UK), the match will be streamed live with commentary from Max Jones and Laura Bassett on Arsenal.com.
Our opponents
A historic club that has existed under various guises over the years (Leeds Carnegie, Leeds Ladies, and now Leeds United), the Yorkshire side once counted footballing royalty Sue Smith, Ellen White, Carly Telford, and Steph Houghton in their ranks.
After years in the top flight, Leeds United now play their football in the fourth division, FA Women’s National League Division 1 North, where they currently sit in fifth place.
Historic meetings
We have met Leeds United twice before in FA Cup Finals, lifting the trophy on both occasions.
A 2006 clash at the Den saw Rachel Yankey, Kelly Smith, Lianne Sanderson and Julie Fleeting on the scoresheet, as we stormed to a 5-0 win.
We met again two years later at the City Ground, with Smith and Sanderson providing the goods once again alongside Jayne Ludlow. Our eventual 4-1 victory earned us our fourth FA Cup in a row and our tenth overall.
Team news
With Sabrina D'Angelo, Victoria Pelova and Kathrine Kuhl all earning club debuts in the Conti Cup earlier in the week, this game presents an opportunity for our new recruits to start.
Gio Queiroz has yet to make an appearance in the red and white, having been cup-tied for our Conti Cup clash against Aston Villa, so we could see the 19-year-old Brazilian in action against Leeds.
In fitness news, Lia Walti is currently nursing a small injury but is expected to return to the squad next week. Beth Mead and Vivianne Miedema (ACL) continue to be out for the foreseeable.
How to watch
The fixture kicks off at 2pm (UK) and will be streamed live on Arsenal.com from 1:45pm onwards. Alongside Max Jones in the commentary box will be England international Laura Bassett, a member of our 2008/09 league title-winning side who also played for Leeds before her retirement in 2018.
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