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In her pre-match press conference on Tuesday Aston Villa boss Carla Ward acknowledged that her side have a tough task ahead of them to reach a maiden major final, claiming it would require a "gigantic effort" to overcome holders Arsenal.

"I’ve not reached a major final yet. Aston Villa [Women] have never reached a major final, it would be absolutely huge. We’ll do everything we can to reach it but we know it’s going to be a tough ask."

She added, "We’re going up against, in my opinion, one of the best squads in the country and we’re certainly thin on the ground. It’s going to be a massive, gigantic effort to get there."

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Despite their underwhelming league form this season the League Cup has provided a welcome distraction for Carla Ward and her Aston Villa side. They finished second in Group A, behind Championship promotion chasers Sunderland, winning three and losing one of their four group games.

The Villans then went on to defeat fellow WSL strugglers Brighton at the quarter-final stage, drawing 1-1 after 120 minutes, before eventually winning 2-0 on penalties.

Villa women have never made a major final appearance in their history, but their good form in the League Cup this season will give them hope that they can get past holders Arsenal into the season's first showpiece occasion.

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Arsenal manager Jonas Eidevall called on his side to retain their League Cup crown when he spoke to the media on Tuesday.

The Gunners beat Chelsea 3-1 in last season's final, securing a first trophy since 2019 in the process.

"We’re still in two competitions and we would like to do our very, very best to win both of them. This is a really important game for doing that tomorrow."

He added, "We’re going to do our very, very best to try to go to another final….. We now have that opportunity to defend a trophy and to win something back to back and for me that’s even more special than doing just one thing once, so let's really try to savour that moment and make the most out of it."

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After falling behind rivals Chelsea and Man City in the WSL title race and dropping out of the FA Cup at the fifth round stage, Arsenal's hopes for silverware this season rely heavily on retaining their league cup crown from last term.

Jonas Eidevall’s side enjoyed a straightforward group stage, topping group D with three wins and a draw from four games.

The holders then comfortably saw off Championship club London City Lionesses in the quarter-finals, thanks to a Cloe Lacasse brace, a Kim Little penalty and a header from Alessia Russo.

England defender Leah Williamson is back in the Arsenal starting line-up and captains the Gunners this evening.

They make four changes after beating Tottenham in the Women’s Super League on Sunday, with Laia Codina, Victoria Pelova, Kim Little and Caitlin Foord all being benched.

Williamson, Frida Maanum, Stina Blackstenius and Kyra Cooney-Cross come in to replace them.

Arsenal XI: Zinsberger, Wubben-Moy, Williamson, Catley, Mead, Maanum, Walti, McCabe, Russo, Blackstenius, Cooney-Cross.

Subs: Bouhaddi, Williams, Codina, Pelova, Little, Earl, Foord, V. Lia.

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Rachel Daly returns from suspension but there’s no Daphne van Domselaar as Carla Ward makes three changes to the Aston Villa team who were beaten 4-1 by Liverpool at the weekend.

Goalkeeper Van Domselaar, who saved three penalties during the shootout as Villa beat Brighton in the quarter-finals, isn’t in the squad.

There’s no Noelle Maritz, with the Arsenal loanee being cup-tied, while striker Simone Magill drops to the bench.

Anna Leat and Danielle Turner come in alongside Daly.

Aston Villa XI: Leat, Mayling, Patten, Corsie, Lehmann, Nobbs, Daly, Dali, Turner, Hanson, Pacheco.

Subs: Poor, Salmon, Mullett, Magill, MacPhail, Sallaway.

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A victory for Aston Villa tonight would see them qualify for a first-ever major final, whereas a win for Arsenal would see them take another step towards retaining the one trophy they claimed last season.

Let’s take a look at how both will line up this evening…

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Good evening!

Women’s Super League action takes a back seat this week as both domestic cups take top billing on the calendar.

First up this midweek we have League Cup semi-final action to bring you, starting tonight with Aston Villa’s trip to take on holders Arsenal at Meadow Park.