Will the Gunners lift a fourth trophy?
will underline their dominance of women's football in this country, should they build on last weekend's Uefa Cup triumph, on Bank Holiday Monday's FA Women's Cup final.
The north London team could go on to lift an unprecedented fourth trophy of the season, if they win against , at the City Ground, Nottingham, .
It is the first time in the six years that I have been editing the match for the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳, that the final has taken place outside of London. A record crowd is expected, buoyed by the growth in women's football in this country, England's qualification for the and the promise of good weather.
Women's football has grown beyond recognition over those six years. I think that the success of the , held in the north-west of England two summers ago, was a real watershed for the game. Last September's qualification for the World Cup, at the expense of France, in Rennes provided, arguably, the finest result of the nation's history in the women's game.
Domestically, Arsenal have been the team to beat in both the and the over the past few years. The Gunners were crowned European champions after their 1-0 aggregate win over Swedish league champions . The fact that this was achieved without either the suspended Kelly Smith, or the injured Faye White speaks volumes. Smith will return to the side on Monday, and I understand that White could be on the bench.
This season Vic Akers' side have been untouchable. They have notched over 100 goals in a flawless league campaign, that has seen 20 wins from 20 fixtures, and four cup matches have provided 26 goals so far.
The club forms the backbone to the England side that has qualified for this year's World Cup, to be held in China in September. Seven of the England team are expected to start for Arsenal on Monday. Sadly, for England coach Hope Powell, the team's star striker Julie Fleeting is Scottish. Fleeting hit a hat-trick the last time Arsenal met Charlton in the FA Women's Cup final at Loftus Road in 2004 and also starred last season when The Gunners thrashed Leeds 5-0 at The Den to claim their seventh triumph in the competition.
Charlton have also enjoyed a successful season and lie second in the league table, but such is Arsenal's dominance that the Addicks trail their London rivals by 19 points and were crushed 9-2 when the sides met in the league last month.
still remains Charlton's biggest threat, although (niece of Coventry City manager and ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ World Cup pundit Iain Dowie) has chipped in with some big goals this season, notably the semi-final winner against Blackburn. Aluko scored the goal that won Charlton the FA Women's Cup in 2005 and was also the match-winner when Charlton beat Arsenal to lift the Women's League Cup last season - the last defeat inflicted on The Gunners in all competitions, over a year ago!
presents live coverage of the match, with opinion and analysis from , and Gavin Peacock. Hope Powell joins Guy Mowbray in the commentary box and will give an interview at half-time.
