Arsenal Women Face Aston Villa In FA Cup Clash

The stage is set for a thrilling encounter as Arsenal Women prepare to battle Aston Villa in the fourth round of the Adobe Women’s FA Cup. On Sunday, January 18, 2026, Meadow Park will host this much-anticipated clash, with kickoff scheduled for 2 PM. Both teams are eager to make their mark in the tournament, and fans are buzzing with anticipation as two of England’s prominent women’s football clubs go head-to-head for a coveted place in the next round.

Arsenal enters the FA Cup campaign following a hard-fought 0-0 draw with Manchester United. While the result may not have been what the Gunners hoped for, the performance left the squad “full of fuel,” as their coach put it, ready to reignite their competitive fire in knockout football. The significance of the FA Cup isn’t lost on anyone at the club. “The FA Cup in England is a prestigious cup, and there’s history to it. We are full of fuel from the United game, where we displayed good play,” said Arsenal’s coach ahead of the match, underlining the team’s motivation to make a deep run in this storied competition.

Aston Villa, meanwhile, has had a season marked by ups and downs. They currently sit sixth in the Barclays Women’s Super League, a position that reflects their mixed bag of results: four wins, four draws, and four losses. With 16 goals scored and 19 conceded, Villa has shown both attacking flair and defensive vulnerability. Their journey in the Subway Women’s League Cup was cut short after draws against Tottenham Hotspur and Birmingham City—both ending in penalty shootout defeats—and a 3-0 win over Bristol City that wasn’t enough to see them through to the knockouts.

Despite their League Cup disappointment, Villa started 2026 on a positive note, notching a 2-1 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion. Rachel Daly and Kirsty Hanson found the net in that match, providing a confidence boost ahead of their FA Cup challenge. Adding to their squad depth, Villa recently secured the loan signing of Jenna Nighswonger from Arsenal. However, due to competition rules, Nighswonger will not be eligible to feature against her parent club this Sunday. Her arrival nonetheless signals Villa’s intent to strengthen for the second half of the season.

Both managers have been vocal about the stakes and the mindset heading into this fixture. Arsenal’s coach is focused on harnessing the momentum from recent performances, even if the scoreboard hasn’t always reflected their efforts. For Villa, manager Natalia Arroyo framed the match as a crucial opportunity: “This is another opportunity to fight for a title. We will face the game with a mission.” That sense of purpose should make for a fiercely contested tie.

Team news for Arsenal brings both hope and concern. Daphne van Domselaar may return to the squad, offering a potential boost between the posts. However, the Gunners will be without Leah Williamson, who misses out due to a calf injury. Chloe Kelly’s recovery continues, with the coaching staff monitoring her progress daily. Villa’s own squad news is dominated by the absence of Nighswonger, whose ineligibility means manager Arroyo must look elsewhere for creative spark in midfield.

The match will be officiated by Lisa Benn, a familiar face in the Barclays Women’s Super League. Benn has already overseen more than three matches this season, issuing ten yellow cards and one red card—a testament to her no-nonsense approach. Notably, she was in charge the last time these sides met in September, a 1-1 draw that saw two yellow cards handed out. Benn will be supported by assistant referees Matthew Joyce and Joseph Karram, with Abigail Byrne acting as fourth official. Fans can expect a well-managed contest, with discipline and composure likely to play a key role.

For those unable to attend Meadow Park in person, the match will be broadcast live in the United Kingdom on Channel 4, TNT Sports 1, and Discovery+. The accessibility of these broadcasts ensures that supporters from both camps—and neutrals alike—can tune in to witness what promises to be a captivating FA Cup encounter.

Looking back at the season so far, Arsenal’s campaign has been a tale of near-misses and resilience. The recent stalemate with Manchester United may have frustrated fans, but it also showcased the team’s defensive solidity and tactical discipline. The Gunners will look to translate that foundation into attacking success against Villa, hoping to rediscover their cutting edge in front of goal. With the FA Cup’s single-elimination format, there’s no margin for error—every chance must be seized, and every defensive lapse could prove costly.

Aston Villa, for their part, have demonstrated grit and determination, especially in their recent win over Brighton & Hove Albion. Daly and Hanson’s goals in that fixture highlighted Villa’s ability to strike when it matters, and the team will be eager to carry that momentum into the cup tie. The absence of Nighswonger is a blow, but Villa’s squad boasts enough quality and experience to pose a genuine threat to Arsenal’s ambitions.

Historically, Arsenal have enjoyed considerable success in the FA Cup, and expectations are always high when the Gunners take the field in this competition. Yet, the magic of the cup lies in its unpredictability—underdogs can rise, favorites can falter, and reputations count for little once the whistle blows. Villa’s manager summed up the spirit of the occasion, stating, “We will face the game with a mission.” That mission is clear: upset the odds and keep their cup dreams alive.

As the clock ticks down to kickoff, both sets of players will be acutely aware of what’s at stake. For Arsenal, it’s a chance to put recent frustrations behind them and launch a serious bid for silverware. For Villa, it’s an opportunity to prove their mettle against one of the league’s heavyweights and perhaps script a memorable chapter in their own FA Cup history.

With talent on both sides, tactical intrigue from the dugouts, and the pressure of knockout football, Sunday’s showdown at Meadow Park has all the ingredients of a classic. Will Arsenal’s pedigree and home advantage see them through, or can Villa spring a surprise and advance to the fifth round? The answer is just hours away, and fans won’t want to miss a minute of the action.

As anticipation builds, one thing is certain: the road to Wembley is paved with drama, passion, and the unyielding pursuit of glory. Both Arsenal and Aston Villa are ready to give it their all, and by the end of Sunday’s clash, one team will have taken a significant step closer to FA Cup immortality—while the other will turn their focus back to league ambitions. For now, the spotlight is firmly on Meadow Park, where dreams hang in the balance and the beautiful game takes center stage.