Arsenal start 2007 in style

UEFA Women's Cup finalists Arsenal LFC returned to their usual perch on the top of the English Women's Premier League this week despite the postponement of tonight's match against London rivals Charlton Athletic WFC.

Games in hand
Champions for the last three seasons, Arsenal have sat behind Leeds United LFC and Charlton in the table having postponed a number of fixtures due to their European run, which has earned them a first-ever final against Umeå IK in April. But few doubted that Arsenal were headed for first place; at the turn of the year they had won all seven of their league fixtures, scoring 46 goals and conceding once.

Comfortable win
After starting 2007 with a 4-1 FA Women's Cup success at Stockport County LFC to begin the defence of that trophy, Arsenal secured a 1-0 victory against Birmingham City LFC last week - the closest they have come to not winning a domestic game this season - and then struck nine without reply at Sunderland WFC, including a hat-trick from Welsh international Jayne Ludlow.

League Cup final
The victory lifted Arsenal two points above Leeds, with a game in hand, and five in front of Charlton, who were due to visit Arsenal's Borehamwood home tonight but for a waterlogged pitch. Neither of those challenges have yet met Arsenal in the league, though Leeds have the chance to deny the Gunners the first part of a potential quadruple of major honours, as the teams meet in the League Cup final on 4 March at Scunthorpe. Arsenal were denied that trophy by Charlton last year, but will be confident having defeated Leeds 5-0 in the 2006 FA Cup final, the biggest win in that fixture since 1978.

Next games
In the FA Cup itself, Arsenal now welcome lower division side Reading Royals LFC to Borehamwood in the last 16 on 4 February. Before that, on Saturday, there is a scheduled trip to Premier Division strugglers Cardiff City LFC - who were Wales's representatives in the UEFA Women's Cup this season. But the next big test could come on 7 February, when Arsenal meet improving Chelsea LFC, one of a number of clubs in touching distance of the leaders, or at least of a second-place finish which could carry a European berth if Arsenal overcome Umeå.

Final dates
Meanwhile, the dates for those decisive UEFA Women's Cup encounters have been confirmed. Arsenal will visit Umeå's Gammliavallen home in northern Sweden on Saturday 21 April, with a 14.00 CET kick-off, with the return on Sunday 29 April at 13.00CET (12 noon local time) in a London venue currently unconfirmed. For the first time since the final became a two-legged affair, both games will be shown live on Eurosport.