Chelsea beat Arsenal 1-0 to go 7 points clear in the WSL table

Photo Credit: Arsenal FC

With a cagey match always on the cards for this decisive clash, it is Chelsea that clinches the win at home, leaving them seven points clear of Manchester City in second place on the WSL table. This game was full of drama, even before kick-off, where the Blues officially announced the signing of American international Naomi Girma for a record transfer fee of $1.1 million. With a record crowd in attendance at Stamford Bridge, the atmosphere was heavy with anticipation and this game did not fail to deliver a show to those in attendance (and for those watching at home).

Game Play

Chelsea went into this match with a 4-2-3-1 lineup, meaning that the Blues were looking to control the field with this possession-oriented formation, opting for a dominating midfield and strong backline. The starting eleven includes some of the team’s strongest players, such as Mayra Ramirez, and Johanna Rytting Kaneryd. However, one surprising change was Guro Reiten not featuring in the starting lineup, though with such a talented side it’s understandable that there is a lot of competition for a start in this match.

Arsenal opted for a 4-3-3 formation, choosing flexibility on the pitch against the opposition, and having a clear balance between all three key components of the Gunners’ lineup. Key features include League Cup Player of the Match, Marionna Caldentey, who left that match with a goal and several promising opportunities to score.

Both teams made four substitutions each, with the first coming from Arsenal as a precautionary measure for number 19, Caitlin Foord, who was replaced by Frida Maanum shortly before half time. For the hosts, the introduction of Maika Hamano, Lauren James, Guro Reiten, and Aggie Beever-Jones certainly made an impact in the course of this match. Slegers’ side also introduced other key players such as Stina Blackstenius, Rosa Kafaji and Lotte Wubben-Moy, but unfortunately these changes were not enough to oppose the dominant performance that Chelsea gave today.\

First Half

Both teams were in search of a goal in this first half, but it wasn’t to be for either side. Chelsea had several promising chances, namely one coming from Erin Cuthbert, who sent the ball just wide of the goal. This chance was the result of some poor Arsenal defence, with a sloppy clearance from Leah Williamson sending the ball straight to Cuthbert who was just outside of the box.

Despite some confusion and miscommunication in the Gunners’ defensive line, Arsenal managed some decent chances at their opponent’s goal, with a perceptive play from Kyra Cooney-Cross and Mariona Caldentey leaving Emily Fox with an opportunity to score from close range. Hannah Hampton, though, managed to block the shot and secure the ball when it was later deflected.

Another chance came for the Blues in the shape of Catarina Macario, forcing Van Domselaar to make a quick clearance to prevent a first half goal for Chelsea. In a similar vein to Cuthbert’s earlier attempt on goal, Beth Mead sent the ball wide, in what could have been a crucial goal for the Gunners.

Overall, despite Arsenal having a higher possession of the ball, they could not make use of this and had significantly less attempts on goal than Chelsea who had three out of their total of eight shots on target with the Arsenal goal.

Second Half

In the second half, both teams got increasingly desperate for victory, with Frida Maanum making a convincing attempt on goal after a few scrappy duels inside the box, though it went just over the crossbar, leaving the frustration still brewing between both sides.

However, the main moment of this match was in the 80th minute, when Katie McCabe showed obvious dislike for the referee’s decision to give Chelsea a penalty from a risky tackle by Kim Little on Lauren James, for which she was initially awarded a yellow card. After this decision was made, McCabe reacted to referee Emily Heaslip with what some are calling “foul and abusive language” for which she instead received a red card, resulting in her being sent off of the pitch, and leaving Arsenal to fend off Chelsea with only ten players for the remainder of the game. It was Guro Reiten who took the penalty for the Blues, which resulted in a goal as she slipped the ball past Daphne Van Domselaar with practiced ease.

Chelsea looked to have another opportunity to score against the Gunners with Maika Hamano shooting for goal from close range, but another quick save from Arsenal goalkeeper Daphne Van Domselaar meant that a more significant loss was prevented.

Both teams stepped up their performances in this second half, but this time it was Chelsea that looked to dominate, not only scoring a goal but having just over half of the total possession and making a massive thirteen attempts on goal, meaning they made an attack on the Arsenal goal almost every three minutes.

Statistics

The total possession evened out in Arsenal’s favour, although it was only 54% which emphasises the slim margins at which these two sides compete at. Emphasised by their victory, Chelsea had significantly more attempts on goal, meaning Daphne Van Domselaar had to make some crucial saves to prevent any of their nine shots on target from going in. Comparatively, Hannah Hampton was not challenged as much, having to defend against only two shots on target from the Gunners.

Overall, both teams can reflect on today’s match with improvements that need to be made, but it is Chelsea who come out victorious and maintain their unbeaten streak under Sonia Bompastor, which now stands at twenty matches. Up next for the Blues is an away fixture in the WSL against Aston Villa on Sunday the 2nd of February. Arsenal will next play Bristol City in a mid-week match at home on Wednesday the 29th of January in the Adobe Women’s FA Cup, but with Katie McCabe serving a two match ban, who's to say what will happen next for the Gunners.