Central defender White – who also captains England - missed most of the 2002-03 season due to a cruciate ligament injury sustained three months into the campaign,  the first in seven years in which the Gunners did not win a single trophy.

 

Now they are back in the hunt for the Cup they won five times between 1993 and 2001 - and as they prepare to entertain non-League Cardiff, White says that she and her colleagues want that trophy back!

 

“It’s not nice watching other people picking up trophies when you’re used to doing it yourself,” said the skipper. “We’ve had to sit and watch the last two FA Cup finals, so we’re determined to be playing in this year’s.”

 

“It was upsetting to see the girls go out of competitions last season and very frustrating that I couldn’t be out on the pitch with them because of my injury. But that’s behind me now and I would love to end this season by lifting The FA Cup.”

 

The Gunners will be hot favourites to reach the semi-finals at the expense of Cardiff, but they will not take them lightly after the South West Combination promotion chasers beat top- flight Everton in the last round.

 

Another non-League outfit, Nottingham Forest of the Midland Combination, will - like Cardiff - be aiming to produce a giantkilling act in Sunday’s quarter-finals.

 

Forest beat FA Nationwide Women’s Premier League regional division teams in both the fourth and fifth rounds of the Cup, and now they are set to host Bristol Rovers of the National Division.

 

Player manager Lisa Dawkins said: “This is a huge challenge for us, but all the players are excited at the prospect of being in the last four. While we have little chance on paper, we believe we will give Bristol Rovers a good challenge.

 

“I know the players will give 120% and if the game can be won on team spirit, we have more than a good chance. Bristol Rovers are a quality side who are up against the top teams week-in, week-out - but the ambitions of our club are great and that kind of standard is where we want to be.”