Arsenal have withstood something of a rollercoaster to reach the SSE Women’s FA Cup final but Casey Stoney claims she will use her ample experience to keep her team-mates on an even keel when they run out at Wembley Stadium this Saturday.
By Charlie Bennett, Sportsbeat
Entering the competition at the fifth-round stage, Arsenal required a penalty shootout to down Birmingham following a 1-1 draw after extra-time before once again needing spot-kicks in their quarter-final with Notts County.
Locked at 2-2 following 120 minutes of action, the Gunners prevailed 3-2 on penalties although the semi-final saw them make far more serene progress as Sunderland were brushed aside 7-0 to set up a final against Chelsea.
Stoney is no stranger to the big stage having won the Women’s FA Cup in three occasions, made over 120 appearances for England and represented Team GB at the London 2012 Olympic Games.
Chelsea won the SSE Women’s FA Cup last year and also beat Arsenal in the league earlier this term but the 33-year-old insists her side will be ready for the test.
“I think this will be a one-off game. We have lost to them before but it doesn’t matter in the SSE Women’s FA Cup final,” explained Stoney.
“I don’t think we will ever need any inspiration or motivation to go out there and perform. We know we need to be better than we were in the league and we will be, no doubt about that.
“It has not been an easy journey for us to get to the FA Cup final. We’ve had two penalty shoot-outs, quite a comfortable win against Sunderland in the semi-final, but it was the only easy game really.
“So it has not been easy, but we are here now and it is where we want to be.
“I have played at Wembley, I have played for England and led the team out for Team GB. I have experienced what Wembley can be like with over 70,000 fans.
“That experience will be invaluable come Saturday and keeping the young heads calm and making sure we are in the right place to be able to do our jobs and perform.”
For Stoney, the SSE Women’s FA Cup final will be particularly special as she played for Chelsea between 2007 and 2011.
She believes the clash will serve as a fantastic advert for women’s football and is aiming to inspire the next generation to take up the game.
“I think SSE has had a massive impact on women’s football, definitely since they started sponsoring the FA Cup,” added Stoney.
“Having the FA Cup final here at Wembley has had a massive advert for the women’s game. It helps to put the women’s game on the same level as the men’s game which is where we want to be. So it is huge.
“Hopefully it will filter down into grassroots and there will probably be quite a few thousand young girls watching the final here, so hopefully there is some inspiration there and they will pick up a ball and play.”
To buy your tickets to The SSE Women’s FA Cup Final, visit www.thefa.com
Image – www.arsenal.com
SHE KICKS – the online community for women’s football
