Women's Football: Arsenal Manager Laura Harvey insists her side will have to win all their remaining games if they are to have any chance of winning the FA Super League

Published: 5 May, 2011
by STEVE BARNETT

ARSENAL Ladies manager Laura Harvey insists her side will have to win all their remaining games if they are to have any chance of winning the inaugural FA Women’s Super League.

On Thursday former Gunners’ striker Karen Carney (pictured) returned to haunt her old club when she scored the winner for Birmingham at Meadow Park. 

It wrecked Arsenal’s unbeaten start to the Super League, and has left manager Harvey calling for her side to improve quickly and reignite their title challenge. 

She said: “We have not been brilliant so far this season and now we have to get better.

“When we haven’t been at our best it has only been mistakes that have cost us, but now is the time we need to improve.”

On Thursday Arsenal looked on course for an important victory against Birmingham when Ellen White opened the scoring just before the break, but second-half strikes from Rachel Williams and Carney turned the game around for the visitors. 

The 2-1 defeat leaves the Gunners six points adrift of league leaders Birmingham, albeit with a game in hand. 

Afterwards Harvey set her side the ultimate challenge if they want to be the ones celebrating with silverware come the end of the season: “Our aim has got to be to win all our remaining games. We have to do that if we are to have any chance of winning the league at the end of the season.”

• Meanwhile Arsenal have made it through to their 12th FA Cup final and play Bristol Academy at Coventry’s Ricoh Arena on May 21. 

The Gunners have won the trophy on 10 occasions, the only defeat coming in last year’s showpiece against Everton.