Arsenal Women v Leeds United Women

Sunday 29th January 2023

Kick off 2pm 

Vitality Women’s FA Cup

Meadow Park

“I’m gonna play against Leah Williamson… I’ve already won no matter the result”. The first thoughts of Leeds United’s Amy Woodruff, who took to Twitter to share her excitement about taking on a star-studded Arsenal side in the FA Cup Fourth Round. Woodruff even tweeted her hero to ask to swap shirts after the game, with Williamson more than happy to oblige.

Leeds, a side in the fourth tier of women’s football, are tasked with taking on 14 time FA Cup winners Arsenal at Meadow Park on Sunday, in a David versus Goliath meeting that only the FA Cup could provide.

The National League Division One North outfit had to beat South Shields 5-1 just to reach the Competition Proper, winning on penalties against Brighouse Town in the first round before wins against Redcar Town and Stoke City to earn themselves a spot in the Fourth Round, where WSL sides enter the competition.

Arsenal on the other hand have spent the first half of the season in a title race up against Chelsea and Manchester United in the WSL, as well as having success against the likes of Lyon and Juventus in the Champions League.

The Gunners were in Continental Cup action on Thursday night, with Frida Maanum running riot in a 3-0 win over Aston Villa. Maanum scored two superb goals, with Caitlin Foord also on the scoresheet, as Arsenal progressed to the semi-finals of the competition.

Goalkeeper Sabrina D’Angelo played well for a debut clean sheet, and there were also first appearances for fellow January signings Victoria Pelova and Kathrine Kuhl from the bench. More changes will be expected for Sunday’s tie, but Jonas Eidevall will be very keen to kick off a successful cup run after losing the 2021 final to Chelsea, before the Blues then defeated Arsenal in last season’s semi-final.

It can be difficult for players to seem to switch constantly from one cup competition to another, but Arsenal will have few complaints about a break from league football. Arsenal fans will look forward to possibly getting a first glimpse of Gio Queiroz in red and white, as well as some other fringe players enjoying some minutes.

Despite Leeds currently being three leagues below Arsenal, the sides regularly met each other in top tier football back in the early 2000s, with the Gunners beating Leeds in FA Cup finals in 2006 and 2008. 

Leeds’ existence as a club was then cast into doubt after they were rejected in a bid to join the new FA Women’s Super League, with Leeds United going on to withdraw all funding and association with their women’s side at the end of the 2013/14 season. 

Supporters rallied to create a new club, and by June 2017 Leeds United owner Andrea Radrizzani brought Leeds Ladies back under the ownership of Leeds United. The club can now go toe to toe with Arsenal again, albeit with three divisions now separating the two teams. Whatever the result, it will be a monumental day for Leeds United, and a heartwarming occasion in the FA Cup at Meadow Park.