Leah Williamson talks to www.themillers.co.uk...
Leah Williamson has pointed out that only a win will satisfy her and the rest of the Arsenal Ladies as they look to capture the last piece of silverware on offer this Sunday.
The AESSEAL New York Stadium will play host to the final of FA WSL Continental Tyres Cup where Arsenal Ladies take on Notts County Ladies.
Arsenal have won the competition three times previously and were beaten in last year’s final by Manchester City Ladies.
The Gunners came up short in the Women’s Super League and the FA Women’s Cup so there is a pressure on Williamson and her team to prevent finishing the season without a trophy.
“Arsenal are known for winning trophies and they have won this competition a lot in the past and that is a standard that we set for ourselves,” Williamson explains to www.themillers.co.uk
“We will definitely be motivated for this one.
“We have had an up and down season as we have had a lot of injuries so we are grateful to be here and I feel that we have worked hard to get to the final.
“After disappointing league and cup runs this year, we are really focused on winning this.”
Arsenal have had a 100% record in the Continental Cup and they saw off League and Cup winners Chelsea Ladies in the process.
This competition has been a chance for youngsters such as 18 year-old Williamson to get more game time.
The PFA Women’s Young Player of the Year has spent part of the season out with an ankle injury but she insists that she is ready to finish off what has been a physically tough campaign.
“I’ve made sure that I was coming back to full fitness,” she adds. “I knew that this competition was going to be where I would get the most game time and so I’m glad that we’ve made it all the way to the final and I might get another opportunity to put on my boots.”
Arsenal and Notts County met twice earlier this year in the league and on both occasions the Magpies have taken an early lead, but Arsenal managed to avoid defeat. Williamson is aware of this and her team will be focused on not conceding early on.
“That will be at the forefront of our mind and we don’t want to concede. On both occasions we fought back and we won the second time so that fills us with confidence.
“We know we can deliver and the performances we have put in after a going goal down have been fantastic so we just need to make sure that we start the game well and hit the ground running.”
This will be the second time that women’s football has been played at the AESSEAL New York Stadium. In 2013, England Ladies beat Canada in a 1-0 friendly in front of a crowd of almost 5,000.
Williamson is aware of the distance for a lot of Arsenal fans but still feels that taking the Continental Cup across the country can only help promote the sport.
“It will only support the growth of the women’s game and push us on to where we want to go. The support from England as a whole especially after the World Cup has been great and more people are getting behind the women’s game.
“Regardless of not having too many Arsenal fans I think that we will still get a good turn out to come down and see what the game is about.”
The FA WSL Continental Cup final kicks off at 3pm on Sunday 1st November. Adults can come down and watch for £5 and concessions are priced a £2.50.
For tickets contact: www.rotherhamunitedshop.co.uk or 0844 414 0754