Laura Coombs admits she and her Chelsea teammates will be drawing on some insider knowledge when they meet Arsenal tonight in their top-of-the-table FA WSL 1 clash.
The Blues currently sit top of the pile after a superb start to the campaign that has seen them rack up four wins from four.
Next up are the Gunners, who sit second with three wins and draw, in what could prove an early test of both sides’ title credentials.
Coombs is a former Gunner herself and with new signing Niamh Fahey also a fresh recruit from Thursday’s opponents, the midfielder admits they are well prepared for the test.
“I was at Arsenal about four years ago so I think I’ve actually been at Chelsea longer than I was there and I’m a Chelsea girl at heart,” she said. “But it’s always really interesting to play a former side and I’m looking forward to it.
“I don’t really know anyone left there as it’s all different now, even the management has gone through quite a few changes since then and it’s not the team I played with.
“However, we’ve got Niamh Fahey who was there more recently so we’ve tried to sneakily ask her about what their plans might be so we’ll see what she can find out.
“We will definitely be looking to make a strong finish to this part of the season before the break, hopefully with three victories.”
Coombs could be forgiven if Chelsea have one eye on their FA Women’s Cup semi-final clash with Manchester City on Monday.
Indeed the Blues knocked out Arsenal in the quarter-finals with a 2-1 victory but the Gunners have bounced back well in the league and Kelly Smith insists revenge will not be on their mind tonight at Staines Town FC.
“We’re not looking at the Chelsea game being about revenge for that FA Cup defeat – we know we need a win for the league campaign,” she said.
“Of course that game showed how strong they are and how big a test it will be when we take them on but our confidence is high.
“I think in that game they just wanted it more and we weren’t at our best – they were better on the day. We know how important these games are ahead of the international break.
“Chelsea have really strengthened and they’re an extremely well organised side. They’ve added a new goalkeeper in Hedvig Lindahl, who I really rate, and then they’ve got Niamh Fahey in who used to play here so we know how good she is.”
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