Winner takes it all

Everton v Arsenal
The FA Tesco Women's Premier League
2pm, Sunday 10 May 2009
Widnes FC

In the most exciting finish to an FA Tesco Women’s Premier League title race for five years, champions Arsenal visit Everton on Sunday knowing that only victory will enable them to win the League for a sixth successive season.

Back in 2004 Arsenal had to beat Fulham to be crowned champions and did so, a 3-1 win earning them the first of those five straight League titles.

Now, as they seek to stretch their total haul of titles to 11, they face an arguably tougher test against an Everton side who recently beat them 3-0 and who on Wednesday moved three points clear at the top of the table with a 3-0 win at Doncaster Belles in their penultimate game of the campaign.

So it’s a last match shoot-out, with Everton requiring only a draw to win the League for the first time since 1998 while an Arsenal victory would give the Gunners the title on goal difference.

Throw into the equation the fact that Arsenal manager Vic Akers, who has been in charge since forming the club 22 years ago, is set to step down from his post after the game and the scene is set for an emotional afternoon all round – even though Akers himself will not be at the game.

As the kit man to Arsene Wenger’s Premiership Gunners, Akers will be on duty at the Emirates Stadium for the visit of Chelsea.

But the Premiership game kicks off at 4pm, two hours later than the women’s game at Everton, and Akers said: “I’ll organise things on the telephone – I’ll be on to my coaching team every 10 minutes or so.

“It’s sad that I won’t be there and that I won’t be walking into a dug-out again, but the most important thing is the team and hopefully we can get the result we want.

“We’ve beaten Everton three of the four times we’ve played them this season, but after knocking them out of The FA Women’s Cup a few weeks ago, we played them in the League a week later and didn’t do the jobs we’d done so well the week before.

“So we know we’ll have to perform better this time and we know we need to win – but that’s what we always go out to do, so it’s business as usual.”

Everton manager Mo Marley, who was a player in the club’s title-wining team 11 years ago, also insists that it will be business as usual.

But with the knowledge that the League title will belong to the Merseysiders if they maintain their season’s unbeaten League record, Marley is almost disbelievingly sensing glory while also doffing her hat to Akers on the eve of his retirement.

The Gunners, who earlier this season beat the Toffees in the Community Shield and League Cup as well as The FA Cup, head into the game looking for their 32nd major title and Marley said: “Managers are judged on trophies and in that sense Vic’s the best. What he’s done with Arsenal has been brilliant, and he’s also done a great job for women’s football through his dedication and commitment to the game.

“But hopefully he won’t end his managerial career on a wining note. Arsenal have won the League Cup and FA Cup already this season, but we aim to win the League.

“If we are as resilient as we have been all season, if we defend as well as we can, then hopefully the result can take care of itself.

“It would be unbelievable to win the League, though. Normally Arsenal have got it sewn up by Christmas and we’re scrapping for second place, so the fact that it’s still possible for us to win it in the last match of the season is a bit of a shock.

“But it is possible – and if we do it I’ll be in heaven!”