Our Adobe Women’s FA Cup campaign begins against Aston Villa at Meadow Park on Sunday afternoon.
It’s a 2pm kick-off in the fourth round as we look to get back to winning ways following our 0-0 draw with Manchester United.
Tickets are now open to general sale, so get down to Borehamwood to help us reach the fifth round.
MIDDLE OF THE PACK
It’s been a season of mixed fortunes for Aston Villa, who sit sixth in the Barclays Women’s Super League with four wins, four draws and four defeats. They’ve scored 16 goals and conceded 19 in the process.
In the Subway Women’s League Cup group stage, Villa drew matches with Tottenham Hotspur and Birmingham City but lost both ties on penalties, meaning their 3-0 win over Bristol City wasn’t enough to secure progression to the knockout stage.
Natalia Arroyo’s side began 2026 with a 2-1 win at home to Brighton & Hove Albion thanks to goals from Rachel Daly and Kirsty Hanson, on the same day they announced the loan signing of Jenna Nighswonger from us.
WHAT THE MANAGERS SAY
Slegers: “The FA Cup in England is a prestigious cup, and there's history to it. It's been ten years, from 2016 to 2026. We are full of fuel, also off the back of the United game, where there were a lot of good things in the way we played, but we didn't win that game.
"So we've used all these things all together and used it as fuel into the game on Sunday.” - read every word of Renée’s pre-Aston Villa press conference.
[Read more
Every word of Renée’s pre-Villa press conference](https://www.arsenal.com/news/every-word-renees-pre-villa-press-conference?utm_source=arsenaldotcom&utm_medium=embedded-article&utm_campaign=news)
Arroyo: “After not being able to get the points that we needed to go through the Subway League Cup, this is another opportunity to fight for a title.
“We were not the luckiest in the draw, but we will face the game with a mission, knowing that we were able to beat them in some of our games against them.”
TEAM NEWS
Renée revealed in her pre-match press conference that Daphne van Domselaar might be back in contention for the squad, but Leah Williamson unfortunately sustained a calf injury so she won’t be available.
Chloe Kelly is progressing well and the staff are taking her recovery day by day.
Jenna Nighswonger, on loan from us at Aston Villa, is not eligible to play against us on Sunday.
MATCH OFFICIALS
Lisa Benn has been appointed to take charge of Sunday's fixture. She has seen over three Barclays Women's Super League matches this season, handing out 10 yellow cards and one red, including two each in our 1-1 draw with Aston Villa in September.
Referee: Lisa Benn
Assistant Referees: Matthew Joyce and Joseph Karram
Fourth Official: Abigail Byrne
HOW TO WATCH
This match is only being shown live on TV in the United Kingdom, where it will be available on Channel 4, TNT Sports 1, and Discovery +.
[Read more
How to watch Arsenal Women v Aston Villa on TV](https://www.arsenal.com/news/how-watch-arsenal-women-v-aston-villa-tv-0?utm_source=arsenaldotcom&utm_medium=embedded-article&utm_campaign=news)
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