If there ever was a time to assume the memory of a goldfish, now looks appropriate for Arsenal. Off the back of a frustrating league draw away to West Ham United – a team that sits seventh in the WSL table and hadn’t managed to snip a point off Arsenal in all eight WSL fixtures between the pair – the Gunners are due to welcome Manchester City in the semi-final of the Conti Cup on Wednesday before meeting them once more on Saturday in the league.
The upcoming matches are critical for Arsenal’s pursuit of silverware this season, but they find themselves in the unenviable position of not only facing the same opponent twice in three days but an opponent against whom a bristling title race is still being fought.
Arsenal’s dropped points to West Ham mean Jonas Eidevall’s side sit third in the table and five points off leaders Chelsea. City are level on points in the table with Arsenal, behind on goal difference, though the Gunners do have a game in hand.
And after Eidevall’s comments in the run-up to Sunday’s draw that his side are “short in numbers” following the club’s failure to recruit a “proven goalscorer” in the transfer window, the pressure has mounted for Arsenal to flex the title and cup credentials they have.
Arsenal comfortably put away fellow WSL side Aston Villa in the quarter-finals, but City exist in a different cache of competitor to Carla Ward's ranks.
The defending Conti Cup champions are riding an impressive 16-match unbeaten run in all competitions heading into Wednesday’s showdown and have their eyes set on a fifth Conti Cup title as they zero in on the first piece of silverware up for grabs this season, a record that would see them match Arsenal’s five since the tournament’s inaugural season in 2011.
Arsenal have not laid siege to the trophy since the 2017-18 season in a 1-0 win over City.
Claiming a sixth Conti Cup title will hinge on Arsenal showing a vein of ruthlessness against one of the WSL's top four sides. Missed chances was the theme on Sunday night as Arsenal struggled to break down a miserly West Ham defence anchored by keeper Mackenzie Arnold.
Chances fell to Stina Blackstenius, Frida Maanum and Lina Hurtig, but none could convert. The additions of Katie McCabe and new signing Victoria Pelova with 20 minutes to go added more firepower but to little avail.
Leah Williamson’s late strike from deep forced Arnold into a fingertip save with mere minutes remaining in regular time but ultimately only augmented the bubbling exasperation permeating the travelling Arsenal fans around the Chigwell Construction Stadium as the final whistle rang.
Sunday was not the first time Eidevall’s side wrestled to show a clinical edge in the aftermath of season-curtailing injuries to Beth Mead and Vivianne Miedema. Against Chelsea, a similar narrative played out as the Gunners dominated possession but a method of putting the match to rest remained elusive, allowing room for Sam Kerr to pull back a leveller in the 89th minute.
Arsenal have yet to face City this season in any capacity, with the Conti Cup semi-final representing the first meeting between the two sides. City's attacking ranks will be a danger Arsenal need to consider, with the league's top goalscorer in Khadija Shaw in fine form, along with England star Chloe Kelly.
When asked after Sunday's draw if more dropped points will be likely this season following comments from Chelsea manager Emma Hayes, Eidevall said he is "only focused on Arsenal", insisting that his side will perform as well as they can in the upcoming matches.
Kick-off for Wednesday's match is at 7:15pm. The two sides will meet again at 12:30pm on Saturday.
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