Women’s FA Cup postponement plays havoc with calendar

Arsenal’s Women’s FA Cup tie against Bristol was postponed on Saturday, as Meadow Park was not able to deal with the extreme cold episode that lasted most of last week.

A new date had to be selected in agreement with Bristol City and the FA.

You would have hoped that the game would be played in midweek this week, but this is not happening, and instead it will be played on 29 January. This is a bad idea as it will be sandwiched between two huge league games away to Chelsea and then away to City.

Here is the full calendar until the next international break:

• Sunday 19 January – Arsenal v Palace, WSL

• Wednesday 22 January – Brighton v Arsenal, League Cup quarter-final

• Sunday 26 January – Chelsea v Arsenal, WSL

• Wednesday 29 January – Arsenal v Bristol, Women’s FA Cup Round 4

• Sunday 2 February – Manchester City v Arsenal, WSL

• 5/6 February – potential League Cup semi-final

• Sunday 9 February – potential Women’s FA Cup Round 5

• Sunday 16 February – Arsenal v Tottenham, WSL

Playing six games in 14 days is not great as it will put a lot pressure on the players’ fitness and recovery. And if Arsenal are successful in both cups, it would make it eight games in 21 days.

The coaching staff will need to use the whole squad in the upcoming weeks, as you would expect them to put out the strongest side in the league in search for a Champions League place. Especially with two back-to-back games against the other Champions League contenders.

You would hope squad and fringe players will get a run out against Brighton and Bristol in order to have good load management and avoid injuries in a key period for the club.