07 December 2023 , 18:27
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Lia Walti says Arsenal are determined to ensure Emma Hayes doesn't end her Chelsea tenure on a high.
Hayes, who took charge of the Blues back in 2012, is set to become the highest-paid women's coach in world football when she takes over as head coach of the US Women’s national team at the end of the current season. The 47-year-old has won 13 major trophies as Chelsea boss and could add to that haul should her side win their fifth consecutive WSL title this term.
But Walti insists Arsenal are intent on spoiling Hayes’ party and will look to lay down a marker when they host Chelsea in north London on Sunday. “Emma has done so much for women’s football in the English league,” the Switzerland international midfielder said.
“We all have the biggest respect for what she did here. But we also don’t want her to finish that era on a high. We’re here to compete with Chelsea, we’re here to win trophies and we’re not going to be nicer to them just because it’s Emma’s last year, that’s for sure.
“We have respect for everything she’s done here and she has a really exciting job ahead but the focus is on us. We want to beat not only Chelsea, we want to win the league, we want to win trophies and I hope we can make it a little bit hard for her to finish on a high this year.”
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Arsenal are currently second in the WSL - three points behind Chelsea - ahead of Sunday’s showdown in N7. After a disappointing start to the season that saw them lose to Liverpool on the opening day and crash out of the Champions League, the Gunners have won their last eight games in all competitions.
However, Eidevall’s side haven’t beat Chelsea in the league since September 2021, and Walti admits it would be a huge psychological boost to come away with all three points this weekend.
Emma Hayes will leave Chelsea at the end of this season“The season is still very young but we all know these games can make the difference in the end,” she said. “I think we did well with the results against Manchester City and Manchester United but it’s going to be even bigger against Chelsea.
“Firstly they’re three points ahead of us and secondly Chelsea vs Arsenal - it can’t really get much bigger. From the games we’ve had in the past, they’ve mostly been tight games so it’s about who’s better on the day and maybe the subs can make a big change as well for both teams. I’m excited and really looking forward to it.
“We’re having great momentum with our team right now but we’re going to focus on ourselves. For sure in front of our home crowd there is only one goal for us and we want to win that game. That would set us up well for the next games after that for the new year.”
More than 57,000 tickets have already been sold for this weekend’s contest, meaning Arsenal are on course to break the WSL attendance record they themselves set in their 1-0 defeat to Liverpool in October. Reflecting on the impact of the home crowd at the Emirates, Walti said: “You can hear the passion from the fans and I think the club is building a great culture. We can be role models for the little kids.
“They come and look up to us and they want to do what we’re doing. That’s the best part. To see kids in the crowd smiling and screaming at us and wanting to be exactly where we are one day is just incredible.”
Arsenal set the WSL attendance record against Liverpool in OctoberShe added: “When you look at the past there’s always been a huge rivalry between (Arsenal and Chelsea). Because we’re both competing for trophies every year it’s naturally going to be one of the hardest and most interesting games. On the pitch there’s rivalry for 90 minutes.
“Off the pitch it’s quite friendly because we all know each other quite well now. We’re not friends for these 90 minutes, that's for sure.”