by Kadeem Simmonds

ARSENAL’S Casey Stoney hopes to one day emulate Emma Hayes as a manager — but only after she stops the Chelsea boss from retaining the FA Cup this weekend.

The two sides meet at Wembley on Saturday and despite being a vital cog of the Gunners side, the England international has her eye on a top job in the Women’s Super League.

Hayes was the assistant manager at Arsenal for two years, before moving on to the Chicago Red Stars, and Stoney has praised the work she has done at the Blues this last four years, proving that women can succeed at the top if given a chance.

Stoney said: “I’m not a big believer in female for female’s sake. I’m a big believer in getting the best person for the job,” Stoney said.

“With the success Chelsea have had, it just shows that female managers are more than capable of going in there and making a difference and having successful teams.

“As much as it’s annoying being an Arsenal player and seeing that, it’s fantastic from a female coach’s point of view to see that.

“When I hang my boots up, I want to stay in the game. It’s my life. I’d love to manage in this league.”

Hayes is just one of two women in charge in the top flight of women’s football, the other being Reading’s Kelly Chambers.

Stoney will have her work cut out for her if she is to join their ranks but the 34-year-old knows she must focus on international teammates Eni Aluko and Fran Kirby before making the transition from player to manager.

“They’re two fantastic players. There’s no better stage to test yourself against the best than Wembley,” Stoney said.

“It could be a key area where the game is won and lost: their front four against our back four. We’ve got to make sure we’re absolutely at the top of our game.

“We’ve got some talent too. Fara Williams’s name speaks for itself. She can open the game up for us. She’s played in FA Cup finals, she’s played at Wembley, she’s got a calm head and she’ll just play the game, she won’t play the occasion.”