Arsenal: Can Women’s team emulate Men’s cup success?

Arsenal Women’s team will be looking to win their 13th FA Cup later on today in what will be boss Shelley Kerr’s last game in charge of the side.

Kerr announced last week that the final would be her last game in charge after only 16 months in charge of the side. Kerr led Arsenal Women’s team to Continental and FA Cup success last year but lost 8 key players over the transfer break and Arsenal now currently sit bottom of the Women’s Super League after 4 games.

Despite her success over her time in charge of the team she felt that this was the right time to step down as she was not performing well enough in the League and didn’t feel that she was the correct person to turn it around. It came as a shock to both those in the Arsenal camp and the fans who were prepared to give Kerr time given the exodus of talent from the club.

We’ve just got to do it for Shelley

Arsenal will come up against an Everton side who have also failed to pick up a win in the League so far and sit one place above them in the WSL. Everton are the only team to have beaten Arsenal in an FA Cup final when the sides met in 2010, and Everton also triumphed in the 2008 League Cup final.

Arsenal skipper and veteran striker Kelly Smith has called on Arsenal to win the trophy for the departing boss, saying “We’ve just got to do it for Shelley, no-one wanted her to step down. It’s not a good situation for us.”

So as Arsenal Women’s team look to emulate the men’s recent cup success it seems their managers couldn’t be on different paths after Wenger signed a new contract despite many calling for him to leave.

Can Arsenal women do it? Tune in to BBC2 at 16:30 BST to find out