Johnson (centre) is confident her side can defeat Arsenal

Everton defender Lindsay Johnson says her team are ready for battle against Arsenal as they aim to progress to the third round of the Premier League Cup.

The Blues defeated the Gunners 1-0 in the League Cup final last season, and Johnson says they can win again.

"We've beaten them in this competition before so we know we can do it," she told BBC Radio Merseyside.

"So we've got to take confidence from that. We've had a good run in the league so we are confident."

With two of the big teams meeting each other so early in the competition, it gives other teams a chance of reaching the final later in the season.

But Everton assistant Andy Spence says that it is the luck of the draw in cup competitions and he admits you need to beat the best to lift major silverware.

"With cup competitions you can't second guess what the draw will pull out for you," said Spence.

"We haven't faced Arsenal this early on before in the competition. But we feel if you're going to win these type of competitions you're bound to come across the best teams at some stage.

"So if it is not going to be in the final, why not it be the second round."