The Guardian's Women's Football Weekly - Brighton and Manchester City book Wembley spots after FA Cup drama – Women’s Football Weekly podcast

Episode Date: May 12, 2026

Faye Carruthers is joined by Suzy Wrack, Ayisha Gulati and Ameé Ruszkai to discuss the FA Cup Semi-finals and City wrapping up the WSL title

This is The Guardian. I'm Faker others and welcome to the Guardian Women's Football Weekly. What an FAA Cup weekend we had. Congratulations to Brighton and to Manchester City. We both came from behind to book themselves a place at Wembley for the final. Bunny Shaw scored twice against Chelsea. In the week, rumours circulated that she was leaving City with Stamford Bridge looking like her preferred destination.

That was all after Manchester City were confirmed Barclays WSL champions midweek after Arsenal's draw with Brighton. Football, you cannot write it sometimes. We'll catch you up on everything from the past week, plus we'll take your questions, and that's today's Guardian Women's Football Weekly. What a panel we have today, Susie Rack, I'm just going to have to out you, I'm afraid,

but Duck I oversleeped was pretty much my favourite message of this morning. Is that what I wrote? I haven't looked at it out. I've got no recollection of actually writing it. Yeah, it amused me greatly. Aisha Galati, you are my pharmacist. I'm coming to take some hay fever tablets from you later, How are you?

Oh, all good. Thank you, Faye. Yeah, we're all in this together on the hay fever struggle. Yeah, well, if I sound like I have a peg on my nose, I am suffering. For those of you who aren't in the UK and are listening and don't have to deal with the hay fever nightmare that this country brings once a year for certain people, then lucky you.

Amy Ruski, how are you? Good, thank you. I feel like I've just listened to a sponsored hay fever ad. Hey, listen, no brand names were mentioned. Now, were you not entertained? Football fans were served up a treat on Sunday afternoon. It was one of the most dramatic semi-final days in the history of the women's FA Cup. Ten goals scored across both games.

We're going to start in London as Chelsea hosted newly crowned WSL champions Manchester City. Chelsea had looked destined for another FA Cup final appearance after taking a two-nill lead. But goals in the 86th and the 91st minutes saw City draw level and then Bunny Shaw scored her second to send her side through. after extra time. It was an absolutely cracking encounter, Susie, wasn't it? You were at Stamford Bridge. How exactly did they manage to turn the game on its head?

I mean, it was surprising, wasn't it? Like, Chelsea completely collapsed, throwing away a two-gold lead with four minutes to play. That's a lot of soul-searching to do. I think the substitutes around the sort of 70th, 80th minute played their part in that Sonia Bonpastor swapped out, Bowerman for Lucy Bronze. Then you had a writing cannerid coming on for Alyssa Thompson. A bit later, Sam Kerr came off for Ague Beaver Jones. Like, this was all before we got to extra time.

It was when Chelsea were leading, thinking that they're going to a final, right? So then those players come off. It rocks things a little bit. City get the momentum in the bit between their teeth. And Chelsea don't really have the players to come back into it, I think. I think that is part of the problem. Particularly Lucy Brown's coming on, she really struggled. against Boney Shore when Berman had been doing a pretty decent job up to that point.

So I think that was a key key turning point, but a really, really tough way to go out. And the sort of change of plans personnel-wise, when they had a lead, just cost them. Yeah, it did. Let's focus on Manchester City, bearing in mind that they won, Aisha, an incredible week for them, securing their first league title for a decade. We will talk about that success in part two of the poll. but could that maybe have contributed to their slow start to the game? You suggesting they might have had some hangovers or something?

I think it's very possible. They were deservedly celebrating midweek. I know it wasn't the full celebrations. But of course that sort of euphoria is going to have an impact on it because that was the thing that they really, really wanted this season. So yeah, they did have a slow start. But credit to Chelsea, they really took the reins. in that tie in one that I think we thought was going to be a bit more evenly matched in that

first half. But yeah, I think the way they got back into it, it was a tale of two teams and two different types of substitutes, I think. We mentioned there, well, Susie mentioned that the Bonpastor subs didn't quite do the trick. They kind of came in at the wrong time in terms of they hadn't got over the line and it felt like the subs were suggesting they had. On the flip side, And Andre Yeglertz, he brought on some really impactful players. I think a shout out to Amman Beanie, who young Swiss player at Man City, who they signed last summer. I actually spoke to her ahead of the season. And I said to her, you know, what are you hoping to get this season? She said, oh, just a few minutes. But she's been really pivotal in key moments.

The match that they won against Arsenal at the end of last year comes to mind. And she provided those two assists to get them level at Stanford Bridge. And it was just that desire to just find that moment. Bunny Shaw hadn't been great until she scored, to be quite honest. She fired over the cross bar quite a few times. She just wasn't at her best. But I guess that's just what it is, those big player moments find the moments in the times when it matters most. And there was just that feeling that something was going to happen and it wasn't quite over. And especially, after that first goal went in, it felt, okay, City really have this momentum. You could just see that equalizer going in, especially, as Susie said, Lucy Bruns was

struggling a bit at the back with Bunny Shaw. And I spoke to Erin Cuthbert in the mix zone after, and she was very, you know, very gracious in defeat, but something she called out about Man City was they have found in these moments, every season, ways of either holding onto their lead or getting back into the game when they weren't and that was something that Chelsea just haven't been able to do this season in a way that they just have in previous years. So a lot of rebuilding to be done from a Chelsea perspective, but credit to Man City deservedly in a final and have a shot at that domestic double. Where did it all go wrong do you think, Amy? Chelsea outcreated, outpossessed city. There were some

questionable refereeing decisions and the tactical choices that Susie's mentioned already from Sonja Bonpastor as well. But what exactly do you put it down? I think the Berman sub like Susie said was a massive one. I thought she did a really good job. I was speaking to Catherine's at the X-Men. I was like, that's going to be so interesting to see how Berman deals with when he's Shaw this game and she was so good. And then when they made the sub, I thought she must be carrying a knock or maybe she's on limited minutes or something. And I asked Danielle about it after and she was explaining that basically because they'd moved Carolyn, Man City, moved Carolyn Central. They wanted to like deal with it.

that threat and they thought that putting Lucy Bruns on would help deal with Carolyn centrally, which is great, but Lucy Brons couldn't then deal with Buddy Shaw, which was, you know, kind of the thing that led to the, yeah, the turnaround. Obviously, there were other factors in it. I mean, like the third goal is such a sloppy one for Chelsea to give away and things like that, but they can be agreed, I think, some of the decisions on the replays, it looked like the header that Kerr scored early on,

Carpenter's Cross, it looked like she kept the ball in. But I think Bon Pastel put it well in a presser when she said, like, I can't complain about decisions because that's not why we didn't win. Like, you tune her up in the 86th minute, you've got to see that out. And it kind of feels like a summary of Chelsea this season. Like last season, they would have seen that out, the season before, the season before the season before. This season, they just haven't had that in fine margins.

They just haven't been able to grind out the wins like, you know, as prolifically as they have done in years past. And that's one big thing. like an intangible thing that they've got to solve this summer. Yeah, we've mentioned Bunny Shore a few times, but she did dominate the headlines before the game had even kicked off. Potential move to Chelsea on the cards. We've been talking about her future all season

with her contract running out this summer. She then went on and scored twice to send her team through to the final. And look, we know what football's like. I mentioned in the intro that you couldn't write it, but actually these kind of narratives crop up quite often, Susie, don't they? What do you make of the whole situation? Yeah, very helpful. from a writing point of view

when you're covering a match and you're searching for the narratives to write about. No, it's wild, isn't it? I mean, the idea that city letting Bunny Shore leave this summer on a free when, you know,

she's arguably the best striker in the world hasn't received enough recognition for the big individual awards in my opinion, obviously, partly because she plays for Jamaica so doesn't kind of stand out in the major tournaments in, you know, reaching finals and things like that.

So, you know, that's a real shame. And she's someone that doesn't get enough recognition in that respect. But the fact that she's, you know, finishing top scorer again, that even a half-it Bunny Shore, who plays 50% of the games last season, finishes joint top scorer with Alessia Russo. Like, it's such a massive loss to be able to have her leave your team. and not fight for her as hard as I don't think they've been fighting. So that's massive.

And if she goes to Chelsea who clearly want her, as should any team on the planet, then that's a huge shift in momentum for Chelsea, who have struggled in that area with injured players. You know, Myra Ramirez has been out pretty much all season. Sam Kerr has only just sort of started to get back from her injury but it's probably leaving. Gaggy Beaver Jones has been on off form-wise

and injury issues too. So, you know, they really need a good, solid, uninjured centre forwards. But even in, sure, like I say, you get a forward to even if she is injured is going to get you enough goals. Who city bring in is going to be the big question if she does go. And I don't know who that will be. But it's just a massive, massive, massive. massive loss. I don't know what that does to their momentum.

Yeah. In terms of momentum and confidence, what about Kiara Keating at the other end of the pitch, Aisha, because she had a rare start in goal. An interesting afternoon, I think it's fair to say, contrasting fortunes because she was at fault in the buildup to Sam Kerr's goal, but then made a stunning save to deny Shukunushkin in the final minute. It's been quite a frustrating season for her, hasn't it? But how much could this help her confidence? Yeah, as you mentioned, she had a few differing moments. Some ones she'll want to forget and someone she'll definitely want to remember. I mean, the way she tipped over Nuskin's header in the dying minutes of the game,

I mean, that's match winning, it's just as important as Bunny Shaw's winner and her team were really, you know, jumping on her, loving her. It was nice to see Amashita, like, you know, running up to her and just giving her all the praise that she rightly deserved for that moment. But yeah, you're right. It's an interesting one. I think last year there was a bit more rotation of almost kind of trying to figure out

who wasn't going to be number one. This year it has definitely been, you know, not Kiara Keating's spot there. So it was interesting because you kind of got England's number one and two at the end of the pitch at the weekend and both made errors. Both had good moments. But yeah, I think Kiara Keating should take a lot of confidence

because the fact that Andre Eglert still wanted to, you know, use the Cup goalkeeper in that important semi-final and that she was able to produce that match-winning moment. Yeah, props to her. You know, she's still fairly young, still got so long to go. And being part of a WSL winning team, potentially an FA Cup winning team, it's going to do absolute wonders for her confidence, especially as she's been a big part of the FA Cup run.

Yeah, without a doubt. So, I mean, they've won the FA Cup three times, Manchester City, but this is going to be their first appearance at the Wembley final since 2022. They're going in as favourite, Susie, as you would expect. We'll talk about the second semi-final in a second, but it's a massive chance to cap off their season in style doing a domestic double. Yeah, huge. I mean, I think, you know, they would have been happy with the league title alone

after, you know, 10 years without it. But the opportunity to stamp their dominance, I think, on English football this season is a big one. Like, they've had pretty much a clear run at the league without having Champions League football to contend with and things as well. So there's been the pressure on them to step up domestically. And I think that, you know, if they were walking away from this game with Chelsea having got to the FA Cup final and potentially going on to win it,

Chelsea having the two domestic cups and City having a league, then it wouldn't quite be the same as the narrative will be if they clinch a double. Like it's not quite the unseating of Chelsea that may be. they would have liked, particularly in a season where Chelsea aren't doing particularly well and are struggling a little bit. So I think that would have been felt a little bit. So hugely significant to be in the FA Cup final. But I wouldn't write off Brighton, would you? You just wouldn't write off Brighton. Well, no. And the reason you wouldn't write off Brighton is because the first game of the weekend was an equal spectacle to that second game. Brighton made history by booking their spot in their first ever FA Cup final. It finished Liverpool 2, Brighton 3 in the end.

end. Dario Videsich's side overcoming a 2-0 deficit themselves actually after Liverpool had raced into an early lead. It looked like they were going to extra time as well but substitute Nadine Nordham rifled home the winner in the 95th minute to save them that. The drama

was absolutely incredible at St Helens Amy literally coming down to the last kick of the match. Yeah it was a great game. We were watching it in the press room at Stamford Bridge and like there was one of the Chelsea Press officers was laughing because he was like every time I leave the room as a goal because it was just like there was a goal constantly.

I think when Liverpool went into that 2-0 lead, despite everything that Brighton had sort of done, he thought, oh, it's going to take something to come back from this, and especially because Liverpool were playing so well. But I think, like, the subs sort of helped Brighton. I mean, Liverpool lost like Deniso Sullivan, which is a bit of a killer, especially as that momentum swung.

And sort of as Brighton started to build that comeback back up, it felt like the momentum was with them. Just took a little while for that goal to come. What was it? Madison Haley just before the hour, I think. And then not till the 95th minute for the winner. And it felt like it was coming, it was coming. And then the longer it took, Liverpool sort of crept back in and had a couple of chances. And you just didn't know which way the game was going to go.

It was a really classic, I mean, it was a classic Cup day. Both games were just like, you had no idea which way either game was going to go at the point where it kind of looked from the start, like, oh, this is nailed on to go a certain way. It was a really, really, really good day of football, wasn't it? Yeah, and it's been a really positive few weeks for Brighton, actually, hasn't it? They beat Arsenal in the quarterfinals of the FA Cup, which was a brilliant game, before beating Manchester City in the league,

and then that really important draw against Arsenal, which we'll get into in a bit as well. What's been the key, do you think, to them swinging momentum in their favour, Aisha? Yeah, I mean, the Brighton project is one that I think we can all admire and have been admiring from both the men's and the way. women's side. And I think it's really important to see that actually the fruits of your labour will be rewarded. They will be reaped. The amount that Brighton care about their women's team, even this project with Videsc, she came in at the beginning of last season. You've already, you've already seen the transformation. You know, they've got their highest ever WSL points

tally last year. They could beat that this year. It's just a show of if you put the work in and you allow a manager to have that time with the players, with the right investment, where you can get. And I think if you put the flip side of it of a Liverpool team who maybe haven't been putting that same investment and priority into it, I think that really is what you can show for it. And I'm really pleased for Brighton. They really deserved it. But these last few weeks, like you say, that form they found, it's come at just the right time, hasn't it? what a special moment for them to reach that cup final, especially, it's been a tough season for Dario Videsich, especially, you know, he lost his father earlier this year. Rado, who was a big part of Brighton in the women's and girls' side. So he looked up at the sky immediately on the full-time whistle. That was really a touching moment. And they're talking about history. When you talk to Videsich, he wants to create history. And they have this perfect moment and good for them because Brighton, they really deserve it.

they're trusting in the manager, the managers trusting in the players and having that autonomy and direction that he's allowed to have and also crucially being given the time to achieve those things. I'll tell you what though, Susie. Just like Chelsea, Liverpool are going to be kicking themselves for letting that lead slip. Where did it all go wrong for Garretel's side? I mean, I think when Brighton's score there first, literally a minute after Liverpool have gone ahead, that shifts the confidence amongst Darrow Fidderick's side a little bit.

you can come back straight away. And then Brighton are just, I think overall, a better quality side, very well-coached, deeper squad, which they were able to kind of lean on in midweek against Arsenal. So I think they made seven changes for that Arsenal game. And what really impressed me at that game was that you really could not see a significant difference to the way they played and how they looked.

And then you have the start of sort of coming back in for this. with all of the substitutes or kind of more fringy players having made a big difference in midweek and confidence is high in a group as a whole. I think that really builds some squad momentum when you have everyone step up. So I think it's just ultimately the stage at which their two projects are at. Like Garif Taylor is so new into his. They've only really kicked on properly since January after he was able to bring in a few players to give that squad.

I was going to say some meat to the bones, but basically the bones as well. And like now you're kind of in a stage where they need a bit more of that in the summer and a bit of stability and, you know, kind of a bit of investment from the club as a whole to kick on. So I don't think it was a surprise that Barton won this game. I think the surprise was that Liverpool went into a two-neal lead.

But once Brighton get that first goal, literally a minute after Olson scores, I think you're then talking about momentum shift and Brighton sort of just kind of snapping out of the days that the two goals put them in. Yeah, to have the resilience to do that in the first place from Brighton's point of view gives them some real confidence going into the final, Amy. How are they going to approach it though? Because obviously they know they can beat Manchester City because they've done it before. But they also know they're going to be underdogs going into the game at Wembley. They've not experienced an occasion like that either, you know, what a final brings.

what can they use to their advantage? Yeah, I think Frank Kirby will obviously play a quite central role in that. I think whenever Darryo Vidissich talks about Kirby, talks about almost like a player manager, like a player assistant coach, like the role that she has in sort of helping to propel this team to that sort of next level. It's like he's almost like putting, you know, all the, everything he wants to do with this team and putting it into a player that's kind of done all that and be like, you know, go out there and have that role and be like,

almost like a, like I say, like a player manager in a way. So I think she'll be able to share a lot of that experience. I think a lot of these players have got experience, just not with Brighton. You know, you look at like Mendoza and Net, who's, you know, won Africa Cup of Nations, played in World Cups and things like that. You've got a lot of experience, but just not in this situation. I think the fact that they're not favourites, you know, they're going to be underdogs probably helps, like, relieve some of the pressure.

And the fact that they've just beaten them. I'm so interested to see how that game plays out. because I mean Brighton really exposed City sort of like in behind and especially out wide. But then you look at City and, you know, they should have maybe, like the first half, they were brilliant in that game and it's just a really interesting final. And, you know, we're used to get in kind of any mixture of sort of the big four, I suppose, in like a final, whether it's epic cup or league club. I know there are exceptions, but it's so interesting to have another team in that final

and see how they handle it and even more. when you're giving that Brighton had just beaten Mancity and they have that game, but that blueprint to do it, it's going to be a great final, I think. Yeah, and they're starting to build something really special. Investment works. What a surprise. How many times do we say that?

I'm sure it's not going to be that long before they're knocking on the Champions League spot doors with the kind of form that they're in, the momentum that they've got on the backing as well. Good luck to both teams in the final. We will, of course, preview that and review it at the end of the season. It is at the end of the month, by the way.

We were just discussing that before the pod got underway, the season that keeps on giving. Everybody's kind of limping towards the end of it at the moment, aren't they? Right, that's it for Part 1 of the Guardian Women's Football Weekly in part two. We're going to look back at Manchester City's title win and a busy week for Arsenal. I'm Kai Wright. I'm Carrie Sherman.

And we are here to tell you about our new show, which is rooted in this feeling that at least I have. I know you have where it's kind of like when you wake up in the morning. and you pick up your phone and you're just hit in the face with a fire hose of news, right? Like, there's war, there's authoritarianism, our planet is burning. I could go on and on and on and on and on. But like we're trying to figure out how to manage it, right? Like how do you manage it?

I manage it by leaning in and trying to learn more and trying to figure out, okay, how can I be smarter about this particular topic? And who can I talk to that's going to make me feel better about it? And who can tell me who's responsible for the mess that I'm reading about. So that's our mission. That's the show. Welcome to Stateside with Kai and Carter. We're a new show from The Guardian. We're talking to big thinkers and the best journalists,

just trying to understand the world through smart conversation and honest reporting. We don't have billionaires telling us what to say. Stateside with Kai and Carter will come out three times a week, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday starting May 13th. Follow on Apple Podcasts or catch us wherever you watch or listen. Welcome back to part two of the Guardian Women's Football Weekly. So Manchester City are finally Barclays WSL champions. Andre Yerglat's side wrapped up the title without even kicking a ball

as Brighton's one all drawer on Wednesday night with Arsenal confirmed the destination of the trophy. I mean, to be fair, it felt for quite a long time, Aisha, that it was never really in doubt. Deserving champions for you? Yes, definitely deserving champions. They've played really well this season. They have been the team that no one's been able,

to catch. And we mentioned it earlier in the pods. Their lack of European football has definitely played a part in that. You know, the key players that you would say are the superstars in the Man City team have been able to stay fit in a way that they weren't able to last season. You know, your Lauren Hemp's, your Bunny Shores, your Viv Medemars, to name a few, Alex Greenwood, there's plenty of them. They really have shown their class throughout the campaign. The only thing I would caveat it with, and they are deserving champions, I want to say that before. But the scoreboard pressure, the sort of has never been there, even though it has been since January technically, because of Arsenal having games in hand, they were never able to actually push them points-wise because

there was always so many games in hand that it was always kind of hypothetical points. Or actually, if Arsenal won all their games, there'd only be one point, which of course in a normal title race would, would add pressure. You'd go into a game thinking we really need to win this one. Yeah, the pressure was never there for them. They just were able to ultimately sail to victory. But yeah, deservedly so. I mean, they lost to Chelsea on the opening game of the season and that seemed to really sort of spark life into them and think, gosh, no, we need to get this sorted. And boy, did they, I think, you know, some key results that come to mind that win at the joy against Arsenal in the closing minutes of that game. And that really epitomised their season.

away, you know, beating Liverpool 1-0 the other week. I mean, wow, just finding those big moments in the way that they did in that semi-final against Chelsea that we spoke about earlier too. So kudos to them, kudos to Andre Eglutz doing that in his first season. The players seem to really love him

and yeah, congrats to Man City. Yeah, absolutely. Celebrations were wild as the squad settled down to watch proceedings at the Joy Stadium. Andre Yaglertz is right at the heart of it as well, wasn't he? What is the key thing he's done though, Susie? And added to city this season that's got them over the line because it's felt like they've been

treading water for the last few years perhaps. Yeah, I mean, I think a big part of it is culture. You know, there's no secret that I think things have gone a little bit of stale under Garif Taylor. Frustration are built up. You know, when you go that long without winning anything, despite having that much investment, things are going to fracture a little bit. And I think they just need a change and freshening. And Andre's come in. It seems quite, quite a personable laid-back person. And I think that has shifted momentum for them massively. I think Mirdom are coming in as well, made a big difference.

You notice, obviously, she's got the horrible situation with her mum at the moment, so she's not been in the squad for a couple of weeks. And you really notice her absence. I don't think Citi have looked quite as rampant in these games as they have when she's there, sort of being the connection between Buddy and the mid-year. field and also contributing herself and, you know, dividing attentions up top, like, who do you focus on if both of those are in the side? So, you know, having had so many people ask the question, how would they both fit into the team? It now looks really, really disjointed when

one of them isn't, which will make it really interesting next season if and when Bunny does go. So the main thing for me is that cultural shift and not having European football. Yeah, that result snuffed out any slither of hope that Arsenal had of upsetting Cities party and they started really slowly, didn't they, Amy, which maybe more of a hangover from that defeat in the Champions League possibly. Yeah, I made some changes as well. I think it was always, it was a weird end to the title race because it was like it's still alive but it was sort of never really felt alive.

It was like they've got to win every game. There's no margin forever. They've just come off the back of the Champions League campaign that you just mentioned. and it felt too much. It was, yeah, I suppose a little bit like the Premier League title race in some respect of sort of like the leader being ahead for so long and you're thinking, oh, well, they're going to win the league. And then there's this slight kind of moment of doubt,

especially with, you know, the leader having a wobble. But it does count on those games in hand. And games in hand are never points on the board. And yeah, it just kind of just got a little bit too far away from them. But I think what Susie said earlier, about Brighton making all those changes themselves and looking so good. Like, you know, you expect that from the top teams,

but for Brighton to make that many changes and putting such a sort of fluid performance and to still sort of play like they would do if they had a full-shempt team, I think was really impressive. And yeah, just the wrong fixture at the wrong time if Arsenal wanted to stay in that type of race, but it looked to long shot all the way anyway.

Yeah, Renee Slager's side did return to winning ways. They had a comfortable 3-0 win over Aston Villa on Saturday. That confirmed European football for them for next season. Aisha, that was the bare minimum. I think it's fair to say. Important to have a good performance though as well to get themselves back to winning ways.

Yes, definitely. I mean, they'll look back on this season and probably be disappointed in the sense that the title race was sort of alive, but it did fall flat. They never really pushed it. Champions League, they had that lead, were beaten by ultimately a better

side in Leon. went out of the FA Cup to Brighton and of course a league cup exit too to Manchester United. So no silverware following a year where they were European champions. Sorry, that's not fair. They did win the women's champions cup in January. But in terms of the silver, Susie's cheering. Yeah, world champions, as all the fans keep telling me.

But yeah, in terms of those four trophies that they would have ultimately set out to win ahead of the year. They haven't got their hands on them. And yeah, I think it is disappointing because it felt like they were really onto something. And also, they have had a really, you know, you kind of look at the matches. They've done really well. You know, they're unbeaten run. They've had some really big moments, won some big games. But ultimately, it's silverware that fans want and it's silverware that keeps managers happy, keeps players happy. They needed that win at the weekend. They needed Champions League football. And to be honest, they need, they need,

that second place of Champions League football. We know the difference between second and third place. They have the opportunity to get seconds and ultimately have an easier route to the league phase of the Champions League, which they need. And I think they'll feel confident they can get, but they need to close out the season with those wins to get that. Yeah, two games left, as you say.

Everton at home, Liverpool away. They will get that automatic qualification to the league phase of the Champions League if they win both of them. It also means some goodbyes to be made at the Emirates on Wednesday. They announced on Monday that Beth Mead is going to be departing in the club after nine seasons, 265 appearances she's made, 86 goals as well she's scored. And she's going to be joined by Victoria Polova, Lyia Kedina, Manuela Zinsberger and Naomi Williams in leaving the club. Not really a surprise, Susie, but can you sum up the impact that Beth Mead in particular has had on Arsenal? Not really, because it's been huge.

So I actually think she's a big loss. I know Arsenal will be preparing to bring others in, to compensate for the outgoing players and things. But in terms of personality, culture, a love of the club, it does feel like a tough one to let go. I know there's a desire to bring down the average age of the squad as well, but Beth feels like someone who has stepped up at times when others maybe haven't as well.

So I think it's very, very sad. Her contribution has been great, not least her assist in the Champions League final, which that pass to unlock the space for Steina Blackstanias in that game is sublime and intelligent and is an intelligence that you don't see from many players. You see it from the likes of Vibir de Moro, Frank Kirby, like those kind of passes. And I think, you know, Arsenal have a big job to reverse.

replace that level of like match intelligence under pressure like that. And it's going to be really interesting to see what they do in the summer to compensate for these outgoing players. But wherever Beth goes, city, rumoured to be front runners, like I think she's got a massive part to play still in WSL football. I mean, look, why don't they just continually swap? Just keep swapping players and then seeing who wins the league when you swap those players, that might be a good idea. I'd rather not. I'd rather not have that. There was another retirement announcement last week as well.

Lucy Staniforth confirmed she's going to be hanging up her boots at the end of the season. Aston Villa and Arsenal gave her a guard of honour at Villa Park on Saturday. It brings to an end of 16-year playing career, one of the WSL OGs, Amy. Just what she brought to the sport as a whole, though? Yeah, I think she's been quite a really underrated player throughout her career. You don't win England caps for nothing, and she won quite a few England caps. And yeah, like you say, WSLOG has been around the league and kind of made an impact everywhere she goes

and, yeah, kind of wish her all the best in their retirement. Yeah, absolutely. I still remember interviewing her out in France at the 2019 World Cup and she was one of the favourites amongst the media, wasn't she? Because she was just always so open, spoke so brilliantly. And I'm sure whatever she does next, she's going to be hugely successful at it. Just to wrap things up, Aisha.

We're kind of looking ahead now to the final weekend of the season. I love it personally when everything goes down to the wire like the WSL too did. It just doesn't happen often enough though, does it in the WSL? Perhaps a little bit frustrating that pretty much everything's now wrapped up bar that second and third spot. Yeah, exactly. Yeah, there's not much to play for on that final day of the season. I think we thought that Chelsea Man United game might have something on it in terms of Champions League spaces as the season went on. Unfortunately, Man United's pretty luck-laster.

Sorry, I said those words the wrong way. round lack luster end to the season. Their end to the season, they've kind of just gone out with a bit of a whimper in a season where we thought that they might not, but I feel like we maybe think that every season and somehow, somehow another. I mean, fair play to them, you know, their Champions League run this year, it was, it was good, it was impressive, it was historic for Man United and you've got to look at that progress. But I think their WSL campaign, especially towards the end, has suffered.

Yeah, there's nothing to play for them. No Champions League football for them next year. And Leicester City, again, they just didn't, despite Liverpool looking pretty weak for the first half of the season, they managed to change these round bring players in in January and ultimately stay in the WSL, which is what the goal is. That playoff between Leicester and Charlton is going to be so interesting. And I am very excited for that. So despite there being nothing on this Saturday, there is all to play for, I think it's fair to say, the sort of biggest, biggest tie in women's football, you know, WSL or WSL2 is massive, massive difference.

And I think it's going to be a really evenly matched game, that Leicester Charlton game. So, yeah, all to play for on that. And actually, that is going to be a really exciting spectacle. So, yeah, very much to keep forward to that one. Okay, well, you can be our hype girl, Iisha. We're pretty much saying, yeah, don't bother listening to the pod anymore because it's all wrapped up.

But actually, that is not true. There's so much more to talk about and of course those tantalising Nations League's games as well for World Cup qualification. The pod's going to be continuing until mid-June to make sure we capture everything including the Champions League final. We've captured everything today though.

So Aisha, thank you so much. Lovely to see you. I'll see you very shortly to hand over some hay fever drugs. That sounds so dodgy. Indeed, I'll get the hay fever meds ready, Faye. Nice to see you. Thank you so much, Amy. Always a delight to see you.

you. Go on Bradford. Thank you. Good luck with you. Don't. Let's not talk about it. Oh, I'm sorry, mate. I'm sorry. You don't have to be, I'm just putting the nerves off for a couple of days. We'll be all right. Yeah, you'll be fine. Susie, lovely to see you. Go back to bed, please.

I think I need to. I think this is my body's telling me I need to. Listen, always listen. Keep having you say. Send in your questions via X. Email us at women's football weekly at the guardian.com. Until then, this is also your regular. reminder to sign up for our bi-weekly Women's Football newsletter. All you need to do is search moving the goalposts sign up.

The Guardian Women's Football Weekly is produced by Sophie Downey and Silas Gray. Music composition was by Laura Iodale. Our executive producer is Joel Grove. This is The Guardian.