Few players know the Chelsea-Arsenal rivalry in the women’s game better than Anita Asante. She developed through the Gunners youth system from the late nineties through to the start of the new millennium, before establishing herself in Vic Akers’ all-conquering side. Asante won the FA Women’s Premier League, the precursor to the WSL, five years running, and was an integral member of the Arsenal team that secured an unprecedented quadruple in 2007.

A year later, she and her team-mate Lianne Sanderson stunned the women’s game by joining Chelsea. Under the management of Steve Jones, we were trying to establish ourselves as a force to be reckoned with, although it wasn’t until a few years later, when Emma Hayes took over, that a place was set for us at the top table.

In 2018 Asante, who could play in defence or midfield, returned to Chelsea a decade after she had initially signed, witnessing at first hand the transformation Hayes had instigated. What was also on a completely different level now was the rivalry between Chelsea and Arsenal, with sell-out crowds the norm, and the media only too happy to amplify the animosity.

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‘For any new player for either of those clubs, they will be quickly educated on the importance of this fixture,’ Asante says.

‘Both clubs have big legacies, so from a neutral perspective, you’re going to get a good spectacle with lots of energy and intensity. That’s both on and off the pitch. From supporters, you feel that. You feel the heat and, in the past, we’ve seen it between the managers.

‘As a player, you know you have to give everything. Your full attention goes to every detail. It’s the details that really matter in these fixtures. Whoever does those bits right on the day will be who comes out on top.

‘There’s no getting away from these big games. It’s in the messaging all week in training and that can come from the coaches, even if they are trying to be consistent. You want to beat your rivals to put points on the board, and to put pressure on them. If you beat your rivals, it gives you a better feeling of being in control.’

The Blues have held the upper hand over the north Londoners when it comes to games at Stamford Bridge or Kingsmeadow in recent seasons. Our home record of six wins and a draw in our past seven meetings in all competitions is particularly commanding, and on Sunday we will be looking to repeat last March’s impressive 3-1 win at Stamford Bridge.

Asante knows full well how important home advantage can be, and she believes Chelsea’s dominance of the English game over the past decade continues to rub off on the current crop of players.

‘Anytime we played Arsenal at home, there was never a single doubt that we would win the game,’ recalls Asante. ‘We felt Kingsmeadow was a fortress and it was an intimidating place to come.

‘There was always a sense among the team and the players that we couldn’t lose. We wanted to do whatever it takes to get a result. Arsenal are a club with a big legacy as well, so you always go into these games kind of wanting to make your own kind of history and surpass it.

‘Both teams have always had top players, but I think Chelsea have always elevated themselves as a club year after year to uphold that competition within the squad. I never felt at Chelsea that I could rest, and that’s not in any negative sense. You had to show up at training every day, showing that you were ready, that you wanted to play and that you were coachable.

‘You had to make sure you were taking on all the information to put the team first and our goals first. The philosophy was always team first. And, of course, we just wanted London to be blue!’

It was just that earlier in the campaign, where we beat Arsenal 2-1 at the Emirates in Sonia Bompastor’s first experience of the derby. On Sunday, Arsenal head coach Renee Slegers will get hers.

Asante briefly overlapped with Slegers at Arsenal, and regularly played against her during their time in Sweden. She told us what she is expecting from the latest contest.

‘They both manage their emotions really well, but a London derby is a good way to test that theory!’ Asante laughs.

‘It will be interesting to see, especially now Renee knows this is her role and how she manages that pressure and expectation. That’s always there because it’s Arsenal, but when you’re in an atmosphere like Stamford Bridge with Chelsea fans, it just adds another layer.

‘It adds a layer to the psychology of the game and their actions – how they cope with it, how they translate their messages, and what they want on the pitch.

‘From what I can identify, Renee says her foundations are from Dutch football,' continues Asante. 'It’s largely possession-based football, but football possession with a purpose. She wants to control football games by having the ball, dominating the ball, and doing it in a way that’s purposeful and gets them into the right areas on the pitch.

‘Sonia is also possession-based. We’ve seen how both of them want to dominate the ball. Their philosophy is you are in control when you have the ball. You can manipulate your position when you have the ball, and you can get numbers in and around the areas you want on the pitch.

‘It’s going to be an intense game,’ Asante concludes as she looks ahead to Sunday’s mouthwatering fixture.

‘There is going to be a lot of physicality and we will see a game with high energy. Chelsea are facing a team who also have momentum on their side. Arsenal have been getting good results and will be feeling confident.

‘But it takes a top team to beat Chelsea. Chelsea have adaptability, depth in their squad, and lots of experienced top players who have played in high-pressure games. They are not afraid to do the work that people don’t always enjoy – get into a scrap and earn the right to play. Chelsea are more adept at doing that.’

That is just one of many fascinating angles to Sunday’s derby. You can still secure your spot, with tickets starting at just £15 for adults and £7.50 for juniors and seniors, which can be bought here.