Two of the heavyweights of the English game will meet in the Women's League Cup final on Sunday as Arsenal Women take on Chelsea Women at Selhurst Park.
Arsenal are the record five-time winners of the competition, but they have not lifted the trophy since 2018, while Chelsea have triumphed twice in the intervening period, including beating the Gunners in the showpiece match three years ago.
Emma Hayes' Blues will be competing in the League Cup final for the fourth season in a row, but after lifting the trophy in 2020 and 2021, they will be seeking a return to the winners' circle following last year's 3-1 defeat to Manchester City.
| What | Arsenal Women v Chelsea Women |
| Where | Selhurst Park, London |
| When | 15:00, Sunday 5th March |
| How to watch | BBC1, iPlayer and the FA Player |
| Odds | Arsenal Women 19/10, Draw 12/5, Chelsea Women 11/10 |
Blues have recent history on their side
The rivalry between Arsenal and Chelsea is one of the biggest in the women's game, but it is the Blues that have been enjoying the better of things over recent seasons, as they are unbeaten in the last five meetings between the two sides, claiming three wins and two draws.
That sequence includes last week's 2-0 victory over the Gunners in the fifth round of the FA Cup, with goals from Sophie Ingle and Sam Kerr helping the Blues to progress in that competition.
The victory also extended what has been a remarkable run for Chelsea since they were surprisingly beaten by Liverpool on the opening day of the Women's Super League season, as since that loss they are unbeaten in 21 matches across all competitions, with 19 of those games ending in victory.
That run leaves Chelsea still in a position where they can complete an unprecedented quadruple this season.
The Blues are going strong in the domestic cup competitions, while they also sit second in the WSL, a point behind leaders Manchester United with a game in hand.
Meanwhile, Chelsea are also through to the quarter-finals of the Champions League where they will face Lyon later this month.
However, any talk of a quadruple will be ended if they do not get the better of Arsenal in Sunday's League Cup final. Chelsea are 11/10 in the Full Time Result market, while the Gunners are 19/10.
Gunners looking to overcome cup hoodoo
Since lifting the League Cup for the fifth time in 2018, Arsenal have become the nearly team in domestic cup competitions, as they have lost four-consecutive finals - two apiece in the FA and League Cups - with three of those defeats coming at the hands of Chelsea.
Jonas Eidevall's side were also pipped to the WSL title by the Blues last season - missing out by a solitary point - but they will be hopeful it is finally their turn to re-enter the winners' circle this weekend.
Arsenal booked their place in the final with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over reigning champions Manchester City in the last four, with Stina Blackstenius' grabbing the only goal of the game during extra time.
Chelsea's passage through to the final was far more straightforward, as they thrashed West Ham 7-0 in the last four, with Australian international Kerr scoring four of those goals - a repeat scoreline for the Blues on Sunday seems unlikely, but a 5-0 win for Hayes' team can backed at 50/1 in the Correct Score market.
Arsenal remain without key duo
Arsenal are still unable to call upon the services of key duo Beth Mead and Vivianne Miedema, who are both recovering from serious knee injuries.
Neither player has featured this calendar year and the Gunners have certainly felt their absence, winning just three of their seven games in 2023 to date.
Goalkeeper Sabrina D'Angelo and forward Lina Hurtig are also doubtful, with the latter's potential absence likely to increase the pressure on Blackstenius to provide Arsenal's goal threat.
Chelsea have no fresh injury concerns to contend with heading into Sunday's match, although Pernille Harder and Katerina Svitkova do remain on the treatment table with respective hamstring and knee problems.
The likes of Kadeisha Buchanan and Jessie Fleming are pushing for recalls into Hayes' line-up, with the Blues boss facing a difficult decision as to whether to stick with the team that beat Arsenal in the FA Cup last weekend or to freshen up her starting XI.
