Sonia Bompastor knows a 'tough challenge' awaits her Chelsea side at the Emirates Stadium today, but there are several plans in place to try to help the Blues claim all three points against Arsenal.
Since we last faced our north London rivals in January, the Blues have celebrated a domestic Treble after winning the Women's Super League title, the Women's FA Cup, and the Women's League Cup. Arsenal, meanwhile, claimed a shock victory over Barcelona to win the Women's Champions League.
Chelsea have picked up this season where we left off, with six victories and a draw recorded in the WSL. Bompastor has also yet to taste defeat against domestic opposition, but knows a difficult test is in store at the Emirates this afternoon.
‘I feel it’s been a long time since we faced them,' said the Chelsea head coach in her pre-match press conference. 'They are another Champions League contender, so they are playing with confidence and have a lot of quality throughout the pitch, individually and as a team.
'So the game will be a challenge. We also have a lot of quality, so we are looking forward to playing this game. It is always a tough challenge to face Arsenal, so we expect them to be ready to compete, and hopefully it will be a good game.’
The Chelsea head coach has rotated her side throughout the campaign and has also used multiple different formations.
Alongside her staff, Bompastor prepares meticulously for every match, and she explained that the plan made before the match is not set in stone once the action unfolds.
‘Going into every game, we have different scenarios and plans in our heads ready for action,' she continued. 'It’s sometimes about what we pre-planned before the match, and sometimes it’s about what I see in the game.
'It can be tactical or management for some players, to give them minutes and rotate the squad for some of them to rest a little bit. If I showed you on paper everything that is in my head on game day, you would probably be scared!
'So we have different plans and everyone in the technical staff is ready to action them depending on what is happening on the pitch.’