LONDON – Arsenal Women turn their attention to domestic cup glory this Sunday as they host Aston Villa in a blockbuster fourth-round tie of the Adobe Women’s FA Cup.
The match at Meadow Park carries extra weight for Jonas Eidevall’s side. It serves as the final competitive test before the Gunners depart for the inaugural FIFA Women’s Club World Cup at the end of January, where they are set to face Morocco’s AS FAR in the semi-finals.
Form and Rivalry
Arsenal enters the clash in scintillating form, but they face an Aston Villa side that has finally found its rhythm. The Villans have climbed to 6th in the WSL table, boasting two wins from their last three outings. Despite the historical dominance of the North London side, clashes between these two have become increasingly competitive, fueling a growing rivalry between the fanbases.
Team News: Strongest XI for the Gunners?
While the Club World Cup is on the horizon, rotation is unlikely to be drastic given the prestige of the FA Cup. Alessia Russo and Beth Mead are expected to lead the attack, while Kim Little will provide the veteran leadership in midfield.
Arsenal Women (4-3-3): Borbe; Fox, Wubben-Moy, Catley, McCabe; Little, Cooney-Cross, Caldentey; Foord, Russo, Mead.
Aston Villa Women (3-4-3): D’Angelo; Maritz, Patten, Parker; Kendall, Taylor, Maltby, Wilms; Hijikata, Daly, Hanson.
Match Information
- Competition: Adobe Women’s FA Cup (4th Round)
- Date: Sunday, January 18, 2026
- Kick-off: 2:00 PM (UK Time)
- Venue: Meadow Park, Borehamwood
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🆚 Facing Villa
🏆 FA Cup historyEvery word from Renée’s pre-Villa press conference 👇
— Arsenal Women (@ArsenalWFC) January 16, 2026
Thiago Nuno is a football editor and analyst covering European leagues, match statistics, and transfer market trends.
