What Arsenal star Steph Catley thinks about controversial WSL kick-off times

Arsenal centre half Steph Catley is wearing the captain’s armband on Saturday in the absence of Kim Little.

And before the Women’s Super League match against Chelsea, she told Sky Sports that there was one clear plus-point to an early kick-off.

“The build-up is the worst bit, you just want to be out there and playing,” she said. “A 12 o’clock kick-off helps that because you just roll out of bed and you’re ready to go.”

Admitting that she is not a morning person, the Australia international said that nevertheless she liked the noon kick-off in this situation.

“I do think on occasions like this it probably just helps you not overthink the situation and just go and play football,” she added.

The 12 noon kick-offs in the WSL have been controversial this season, particularly when several matches have been scheduled simultaneously, meaning that fans cannot watch all of them at once. There have also been questions raised around transport issues if supporters need to travel long distances early on a weekend day.

Steph Catley: We are going out to win

Catley acknowledged that the match against the defending WSL champions is “a big game”, but added that all matches are important.

“It’s a big game, it always is, I feel like both teams are always up for it,” she said. “It obviously means a lot for the table. We’ve just been focusing on game by game. Every single team is important, every single point is important. It’s the same again today. We’re going out to win.”

And asked about standing in for Little as captain, she said: “I think it’s something that I don’t think too much about, when I have the armband. Whether I captain or not, I just do the same things I always do, I’m myself. With that comes organisation and talking and leadership.

“I won’t change anything about me, no matter what situation I’m in.

“We’ve got so many leaders in the team and we’re very lucky to have that.”