Chelsea Ladies defender Gilly Flaherty believes this weekend’s FA Women’s Cup semi-final against former club Arsenal Ladies is the perfect opportunity to showcase what the new-look Blues are all about.

Flaherty was one of eight new faces recruited by manager Emma Hayes in the off-season with the likes of the England defender and fellow ex-Arsenal midfielder Katie Chapman signed to add a winning mentality to the existing group.

So far it appears to be working with Chelsea unbeaten in six games this season, a run of fixtures that includes five wins and one draw, including two victories over last season’s FA WSL runners up Bristol Academy and a 3-1 win at big-spending Manchester City.

This Sunday at 2pm the Blues face Arsenal in the last four of the FA Women’s Cup at Woking’s Kingfield Stadium with the winners set to face Notts County or Everton Ladies in the final at Milton Keynes Dons’ stadium:mk on June 1.

"It would mean everything to reach the FA Cup final with Chelsea," said Flaherty, who came up through the Arsenal youth ranks, winning multiple titles with the north London side before joining Chelsea in January.

"It’s not about beating Arsenal as they are my old team, when you step on the field they are just another team stopping you achieving your goals and I’ve said to the girls here losing a semi-final is one of the hardest things to take.

"A lot of the girls here haven’t won trophies before and are excited to get to a semi, but I’ve won and lost and emotionally the defeats don’t go away, they stay with you and drive you on.

"I think we are the underdogs going in to the game as Arsenal are used to winning but we need to go out there and show what we can do as this is a club built to win things and this would be the perfect way to show this team can achieve that."

Chelsea have made significant changes in the off season with Flaherty and Chapman joining the likes of fellow England pair Rachel Williams and Laura Bassett at the club, while South Korean star Ji So-Yun has added some flair to Hayes’ team.

And while Flaherty, 22, is still in touch with her former Arsenal team mates she insists she is a fully-fledged Blue ahead of the most anticipated game of the season so far.

"I’m looking forward to it and after the game I will catch up with some of the girls," she added. ‘But before that I will prepare mentally and the Arsenal girls know me and know I won’t give an inch.

"I have massive respect for them as a club, but I love my new team mates and am privileged to be here doing what I love to do.

"Both teams are going through a time of transition and despite our good start we certainly won’t write them off as you know what Arsenal are capable of.  But we don’t fear them and will be confident going in to the game."

The FA Women's Cup semi-final between Chelsea and Arsenal takes place on Sunday May 11 at 2pm at Woking FC’s Kingfield Stadium, for more information and tickets visit http://www.chelseafc.com/chelsea-ladies