West Ham United Women are more than ready for the challenge Chelsea will pose them on Thursday, according to Mackenzie Arnold.
The Irons are preparing to play the Blues in the Barclays FA Women’s Super League at Dagenham & Redbridge Stadium, and goalkeeper Arnold is aware of the attacking threat Thursday’s opponents will offer.
“Chelsea is always a challenging game, as is every team in the Barclays FA WSL,” the No1 told Sky Sports. “We’re getting towards the end of the season now and it’s an important time for all the teams. Chelsea are fighting right at the top of the league.
“We’re trying to approach the game in the same manner that we’d approach any match, but at the same time we need to keep in mind that they pose a serious threat in attack with the forwards they have. It will be good game and it’s one that we hope to get some points from.”
One of Chelsea’s main forward threats will come in the form of Arnold’s international teammate, Sam Kerr, and the shot-stopper knows only too well how lethal the attacker can be.
“Sam is a world-class striker and she’s got a lot of pace up front. She makes good runs in behind and she’s a very smart footballer.
“She knows where to be at the right time. She will pose a real threat up front, as will the rest of the front line."
The Irons sit in eighth in the Barclays FA WSL and are targeting a strong end to the campaign, having also reached the Vitality FA Cup quarter-finals, with a visit to Ipswich Town next week in the last eight.
Reflecting on the season so far, Arnold added: “I think the year’s gone quite well. We started out the season by dropping a few points in the last couple of minutes in games, and we had to progress from that.
“I think we’ve moved on from that quite well and we’re only a couple of wins away from getting our best points total in a season in the Barclays FA WSL.
“We’re taking it one game at a time. We’ve got a tough run of games coming up, so I think it’s important for us to stay level and go one game at a time.”
