EXCLUSIVE - Rachel Yankey interview

15 January 2010 11:45
Arsenal Ladies are gearing up to face top of the table Sunderland in the FA Cup Fourth Round at the weekend in what will be a repeat of last year's final.

The Gunners defeated Sunderland 2-1 in May at Derby County's Pride Park stadium thanks to goals from Katie Chapman and Kim Little.

The FA Cup final defeat was the culmination of a successful season for the North-East side. They secured promotion to the Premier League National Division for the first time since 2007 with a 4-0 victory over Preston North End.

Mick Muhern's team got their revenge over Arsenal earlier this season with a famous 1-0 home win, which succeeded yet another massive 1-0 victory over Chelsea.

Having been unbeaten for five years prior to a home loss against Everton last season, the Sunderland defeat was Arsenal's second league reverse since 2003.

Winger Rachel Yankey does not feel the loss will affect her side, though.

Speaking to Football.co.uk, she said: "For us it is disappointing to lose to anybody. We knew it was always going to be difficult and to be fair to them they played really well and deserved to beat us.

"We play them again [in the FA Cup], it's a new game and we know that on our day we can beat anyone. When we played them it was a matter of the whole team not playing well, all of us weren't performing but we still could have been 3-0 up in the first half."

This season could be seen as a transition year for the Gunners with the team having lost many key players to American sides.Kelly Smith and Alex Scott both moved to Boston Breakers and Karen Carney to Chicago Red Stars while midfielder Chapman is due to join Carney in February.

Former Birmingham City player Yankey said: "This season it has been a case of seeing how people play and get on with each other.

"Although it is not a new team, when you lose that many big players, it is difficult to re-jig things so quickly but I think we have done that really well," she added.

Yankey has experienced football in the States having won the W-League Championship with New Jersey Wildcats in 2005 and has not ruled out a future move back.

Yankey said: "When the other three left I had spoken to a team but it just wasn't right for me to go over there with my work at that time.

"It might be something I would look into if a team wanted me but at this moment in time I am happy playing for Arsenal."

You can find out more about Rachel Yankey and Arsenal Ladies by going to arsenal.com/ladies.

The Gunners play their home matches on Sundays at Boreham Wood FC and a full fixture list can be found on Arsenal.com. Admission to Arsenal Ladies' home games is only: £3 Adults & £1.50 Children & OAPs.

- David Brenchley

Source: DSG