Chelsea Women 3 – 1 Arsenal Women

Chelsea took command of the Ladies’s Tremendous League title race with a blistering 3-1 win over London rivals Arsenal at Stamford Bridge, to all however finish the Gunners’ faint hopes of WSL glory this season.

The Blues, now six factors away from Jonas Eidevall’s facet, tore their guests aside with a sensational first-half displaying, doing to Arsenal precisely what the Gunners did to them within the reverse fixture at Emirates Stadium.

Emma Hayes’ facet had been on the incorrect finish of a 3-0 scoreline on the break earlier than happening to lose 4-1 again in December, however enacted the right revenge mission at their west London dwelling, as Lauren James’ opener was supplemented by two Sjoeke Nusken strikes earlier than the midway level.

An uncharacteristically troublesome evening for Arsenal was made worse by the truth that, earlier than a ball was even kicked, referee Rebecca Welch had recognized a conflict of enjoying socks, and the guests had been controversially compelled into sporting replacements from the Chelsea megastore – a mishap that delayed kick off by half-hour.

Arsenal, worn down by the relentlessness of Chelsea’s depth, discovered temporary consolation in a comfort purpose when Kim Little’s strike was deflected into her personal purpose by substitute Catarina Macario, however the injury had lengthy been completed on an evening the place elimination from this yr’s title race was successfully confirmed.

Chelsea will now chase for prime honours in a head-to-head battle with second-placed Manchester Metropolis, who play Brighton on Sunday, with the prospect to attract degree on 40 factors on the summit.

The Chelsea objectives…

How Chelsea outclassed below-par Gunners

Chelsea vs Arsenal is a staple of the WSL – probably the most performed fixture within the league’s historical past.

Till Friday evening, the steadiness was delicately poised at 10 wins apiece, however the Blues now boast a greater document, and a much better probability of efficiently defending their WSL crown consequently.

The reigning champions avenged their reverse defeat by the hands of Arsenal in consummate fashion, beginning aggressively, and capitalising within the fifteenth minute when James unearthed the evening’s opener.

Guro Reiten discovered the England ahead, who almost missed the sport due to sickness, surging down the appropriate, turning Steph Catley inside-out, earlier than her highly effective strike was parried clumsily by Manuela Zinsberger and completed by looping into the web.

Chelsea refused to take a seat again, as an alternative persevering with to reward their strongest-ever dwelling crowd with a second purpose six minutes after scoring their first.

A harmful Reiten supply was teed up for Erin Cuthbert, whose low drive from the sting of the field was deftly and cleverly diverted past Zinsberger by Nusken. The midfielder was adjudged by the assistant referee to be degree with Leah Williamson when connecting with the ball, regardless of the defender’s fierce remonstrations.

If that end was instinctive, Nusken knew a lot much less about her second, as Chelsea impressively stretched their result in three earlier than the interval to successfully placing the sport past Arsenal’s attain.

Williamson’s cross-field go was lower out by a rampaging Johanna Rytting Kaneryd, who loved an electrical first half, and she or he motored in the direction of purpose earlier than pulling the set off, discovering the web by way of the skin boot of an unaware Nusken.

The German midfielder’s double put her on six league objectives for the season, capping a high quality particular person and group show, which had all of the hallmarks of a facet intent on but extra WSL domination.

Hayes: ‘Super’ Chelsea confirmed finest face

Chelsea head coach Emma Hayes:

“I needed the efficiency, extra inquisitive about that than anything. On the Emirates we let ourselves down with the fundamentals. We began the sport the higher, aggressive, significantly with our first and second balls.

“We have not acquired a striker, we’re lacking three No 9s, Lauren James had been sick all week and we requested her to do a job up prime. She had an amazing recreation.

“The entire group had been completely great. Eve Perriset, who has had a troublesome time, was excellent. The higher group gained.”

Eidevall: We performed to Chelsea’s strengths

Arsenal head coach Jonas Eidevall:

“One of many issues I am most upset with is our efficiency – how a lot we allowed Chelsea to play inside our organisation. Their plan, after they’re enjoying Lauren James as a No 9, is to get her enjoying with the ball. They’re excellent at that.

“We handled that very poorly particularly within the first half. That is a giant a part of us not receiving the end result we would like.

“Within the first half, we carry on turning over the ball and so they have numerous gamers going through forwards. They’re very harmful. These alternatives, they take.

“I do assume if you look again on the first half, they scored with all their alternatives. They’re good at that, nevertheless it’s not ok from our facet.”

How do you clear up an issue like Chelsea?

Evaluation from Sky Sports activities’ Laura Hunter at Stamford Bridge:

If we did not already know that Chelsea could be reticent handy management of the title race over to rivals Arsenal, we do now. This was an announcement show in entrance of a document crowd – one which reveals simply how impressively the Blues are navigating Emma Hayes’ swansong season on and off the pitch.

By no means earlier than have Chelsea Ladies attracted a 33,000-strong crowd to Stamford Bridge. By no means earlier than has the squad, at such an important juncture within the marketing campaign, been so severely depleted by damage and sickness. Hayes’ facet performed with no recognised No 9 and blew Arsenal away with an attacking ruthlessness so adept, it felt as if 4 strikers had been on the pitch.

The show was epitomised by “maverick” Lauren James, who was the stand-in No 9, and drew compliments from her supervisor in addition to plaudits from followers and Sky Sports activities pundits alike. That is her stage, and she or he owned it: Chelsea’s first and second objectives had been testomony to that. “Stamford Bridge is her playground,” Hayes eulogised post-match.

Chelsea know the best way to navigate the enterprise finish of a chaotic season and this newest triumph was living proof. Solely Man Metropolis have the ability to cease them now – and, after tonight, even that feels impossibly hopeful.

What’s next?

Sunday twenty fourth March 4:30pm


Kick off 4:30pm

Chelsea are in Champions League quarter-final motion on Tuesday as Emma Hayes’ facet go to Amsterdam to tackle Ajax within the first leg; kick-off 5.45pm.

The Blues then return to WSL motion on Sunday as they face one other London derby with a visit to West Ham; kick-off 4.30pm, reside on Sky Sports activities.

Sunday twenty fourth March 6:30pm


Kick off 6:45pm

Arsenal, in the meantime, are again in WSL motion on Sunday as they face Aston Villa at Villa Park; kick-off 6.45pm, reside on Sky Sports activities.