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Arsenal star Katie McCabe admits that the Gunners are “envious” of Chelsea‘s continued success in the Women’s Super League (WSL) as they prepare to face the seven-time champions at Emirates Stadium on Saturday. Arsenal have not lifted the WSL title in five years, and Chelsea’s dominance in the top flight has been hard to watch for their rivals.
“It always hurts [seeing Chelsea lift the title],” McCabe said. “You want that to be you. You are in a team sport to be lifting trophies with your team-mates. Of course, you are envious of them being successful.”
Despite this, McCabe emphasized that Arsenal are focused on their own journey: “What we can do is focus on ourselves and put one foot in front of the other. Hopefully, by the end of the season, that will be us.”
Arsenal currently sit sixth in the WSL with five points, just one behind Chelsea, who have played one game fewer due to a scheduling conflict with their European commitments. While Chelsea had a weekend off, Arsenal will be playing their third match in seven days, but McCabe is confident the team can handle the busy schedule.
“You want to be playing a lot of games,” she said. “Of course, five games in 15 days is a lot, but that is the beauty of playing in a big squad… It is a challenge that we look at and relish rather than shying away from it.”
Arsenal have bolstered their squad in recent seasons, adding big names such as Alessia Russo and Mariona Caldentey, while maintaining a core group of experienced players like McCabe. However, they have finished third in the WSL for the past two seasons and have had to go through additional hurdles to qualify for the Champions League group stages.
Reflecting on their past success against Chelsea, including last year’s League Cup victory and a commanding 4-1 WSL win at the Emirates, McCabe remains optimistic: “We take those moments as positives… It is about controlling ourselves, controlling our game plan, and going in with the right attitude.”
McCabe’s ‘Villain’ Persona
Known for her physical presence on the pitch, McCabe has earned a reputation as a “villain” in the WSL, having received the most yellow cards in the league’s history. She holds the record for the most bookings in a single campaign with eight yellow cards in both the 2021-22 and 2023-24 seasons.
However, McCabe doesn’t see herself in that light. “Everyone has their own opinion but I don’t think that I’m a ‘baddie’ or a ‘villain,’” she said. “I think what I am is a physical player… I go out there to give 100%, heart on my sleeve, and I won’t be changing.”
As Arsenal gear up for their crucial clash against Chelsea, McCabe’s determination and leadership will be key as they look to challenge the reigning champions and aim for a return to the top of English women’s football.
