The clash at Boreham Wood on Thursday is a replay of last year’s final in the competition where City went on to claim their first-ever major trophy with a 1-0 victory courtesy of Isobel Christiansen’s header.
Arsenal v Manchester City
FA WSL Continental Tyres Cup
Quarter-final
Meadow Park, Boreham Wood
7.45pm Thursday 1 October 2015
This season Nick Cushing’s side have kicked on even further, currently on a 14-match unbeaten run in all competitions and challenging for a maiden WSL 1 title.
And Carter, fresh from an England debut hat-trick against Estonia, admits she and her team-mates have their work cut out if they are to see off their in-form opponents.
“What happened in the final last year won’t count this time around, and it’s a bit unfortunate that we’re facing them so early in the competition given that we both won our group,” said the forward.
“We’ve just got to plan well and try to make amends.
“I’d say they have improved from last year, they’ve added some more quality to their team and they already had world-class players who have now been there a season longer.
“But I’d like to think that we’ve improved too, even if we haven’t showed it at times this season.
Watch Danielle Carter score a hat-trick on England debut
“Leah Williamson was player of the tournament last year and it just shows what can happen if you give younger players an opportunity, and how far they can go. We’re just looking to go one step further this time.”
In-form Christiansen has scored four in her last four games, including a strike in Sunday’s 6-1 victory over Bristol Academy, which helped City remain within two points of leaders Chelsea.
And the England international, who is likely to take on even greater goal-scoring responsibility with Toni Duggan out injured for the remainder of the season, admits she is brimming with self-belief.
"Goals do a lot for your confidence in the game whoever you play for and I've gained a lot of confidence from my recent goal scoring form and I'm looking to maintain that,” said Christiansen.
“The main thing is that Manchester City are winning and we're keeping within reach of Chelsea and we're doing all we can.
"We're looking forward to Thursday but at the moment recovery is the priority. The team is full of confidence.”
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