Match report
Here’s Suzanne Wrack from the Emirates:
Here’s how the top of the WSL table looks after today’s result.
| Pos | Team | P | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chelsea Women | 9 | 18 | 22 |
| 2 | Arsenal Women | 9 | 15 | 22 |
| 3 | Man City Women | 9 | 16 | 19 |
| 4 | Man Utd Women | 8 | 11 | 15 |
| 5 | Liverpool FC Women | 9 | 3 | 15 |
Here’s Alessia Russo: “I don’t think Sundays get much better than that. We started positively, we were ready and the crowd got behind us. We had a tough start, every game is must-win for us, and we knew we had to be on our A-game against Chelsea.”
The attendance, by the way, has been confirmed as 59,042 – a new Women’s Super League record.
“I think it’s a really strong performance, the best we played this season,” says Jonas Eidevall. “Particularly in the first half, where I think we killed the game.” On Beth Mead, he says “it’s a joy to see her back, counter pressing and in one-on-one situations.”
He plays down the significance of today’s result. “It doesn’t count for anything if we’re not ready for Tottenham [next week], and we play in the Conti Cup on Wednesday. That’s the message I gave to the players – a little boring, I know!”
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Full time! Arsenal 4-1 Chelsea
It’s a big win for Arsenal over their rivals that shakes up the title race. Alessia Russo scored twice as the hosts secured a deserved victory in front of a record WSL crowd. Arsenal simply overwhelmed Chelsea, who were uncharacteristically sloppy and disjointed.
97 mins: Arsenal win a corner, play it short and stroke the ball back to the keeper. And there’s the whistle!
96 mins: Kirby’s lofted far-post cross is met by Kerr … but her header is straight at Zinsberger.
95 mins: Lacasse lets fly from distance, sending her shot high and wide. At the other end Wubben-Moy, another very impressive performer for the hosts, cuts out Fishel’s cross.
94 mins: Kerr can’t connect with Fishel’s cross, and shakes her head after what’s been a frustrating afternoon.
93 mins: Pelova is going off, replaced by Kyra Cooney-Cross. Russo has been awarded player of the match but I would say Pelova and Foord were equally deserving.
92 mins: McCabe’s free-kick is swung towards the back post, and Blackstenius sends a free header wide. Arsenal could really have had a hatful this afternoon.
90 mins: Another dangerous Arsenal break, started by Foord – but Lacasse and Blackstenius can’t link up to create a shooting chance. Eight additional minutes.
89 mins: Mia Fishel’s speculative effort zips just wide of the far post – that’s probably as close as Chelsea have come in the second half.
88 mins: Lacasse challenges Charles on the break; the Chelsea defender goes down but there’s no whistle, and Lacasse plays the ball left to Foord. Her shot is blocked by Buchanan, and replays suggest she was offside.
87 mins: Kerr has been well marshalled in this second half, and her looping header is dealt with by Zinsberger.
86 mins: Frida Maanum and Victoria Pelova join the growing list of Arsenal bookings, the latter for hauling down Cuthbert.
85 mins: Another big chance for Arsenal to extend their lead. This time, Blackstenius is played in one-on-one, but skews her shot well wide!
83 mins: A decent chance for a fifth for Arsenal as Foord plays in Lacasse, who mistimes her shot from six yards out.
81 mins: Maritz concedes a free kick and joins McCabe and Foord in the book. Cuthbert’s delivery is poor, though, sailing into Zinsberger’s gloves.
78 mins: Reiten’s hopeful cross pings into the side netting. Vivianne Miedema is out warming up, but probably won’t be needed with Arsenal in total control of this game.
77 mins: The relentless McCabe wins a foul and draws cheers from the soggy Emirates crowd.
75 mins: Lauren James is replaced by Mia Fishel to end a major off-day for the Chelsea forward. Arsenal make three changes – Noëlle Maritz, Cloé Lacasse and Stina Blackstenius replacing Catley, Mead and Russo.
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GOAL! Arsenal 4-1 Chelsea (Russo pen 74')
Arsenal have missed their last four penalties – but Alessia Russo makes no mistake, burying her spot-kick into the far corner, beyond Berger’s dive.
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Penalty to Arsenal!
Pelova produces another pinpoint through ball to Russo, and Carter gets across to intercept – but also knocks Russo into Berger, who had raced out of goal. The striker tumbles over the keeper, and Rebecca Welch points to the spot!
71 mins: Chelsea finally find some space going forward, Ashley Lawrence advancing on goal – but Foord gets back well to nick the ball away, and Arsenal are straight back on the attack …
70 mins: Lauren James lets her frustration get the better of her, standing on Lia Walti’s foot after losing the ball. It looked deliberate, and she is perhaps lucky to only receive a yellow card.
69 mins: Arsenal hold up the ball well, before Pelova’s attempted through-ball is cut out by Lawrence.
68 mins: Cuthbert, who has worked tirelessly in the Chelsea midfield, draws a foul from Maanum. Chelsea free-kick, but they quickly lose the ball and Arsenal build another attack …
66 mins: Lauren James barges her way to the byline, cutting back well before skidding towards the hoardings – but there aren’t enough blue shirts in the box.
64 mins: Arsenal break away and despite Cuthbert’s interception, find themselves with numbers upfield. Foord almost has too many options and her pass towards Mead is poor. The England forward then gets in a tangle with Jess Carter, both players appealing unsuccessfully for a foul.
63 mins: It’s been a stop-start second half; can Chelsea build any momentum? Guro Reiten is on for Kaneryd, making her first appearance since October. They win a corner, but it deflects harmlessly back to Zinsberger.
62 mins: Catley still seems to be struggling after going down awkwardly. Cuthbert floats in a cross, but it’s easily claimed by Zinsberger.
60 mins: Kim Little is going off with an injury; let’s hope that, having just come back into the team, it’s not too serious. Frida Maanum, the FSA women’s player of the year, replaces her – not a bad substitute to have.
58 mins: Mead tries to play Russo in behind Chelsea’s ragged back line, but Berger is off her line smartly to intercept.
57 mins: Kaneryd’s cross is cleared, and Kirby appeals for a penalty after being brought down in the area. The referee isn’t interested, and at the other end, Mead sees her shot charged down.
56 mins: Foord joins McCabe in the book for a late lunge on Kaneryd.
55 mins: Kirby has slotted into the three behind Kerr for Chelsea, with Kaneryd dropping into a deeper midfield position. So far, they haven’t caused Arsenal too many problems in this second half.
53 mins: Katie McCabe gets the game’s first booking after a scuffle with Niamh Charles, and makes her feelings entirely clear to the referee.
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52 mins: Chelsea are pushing up much more in this second half, and understandably so. Lawrence is almost caught out by Caitlin Foord on the halfway line but Chelsea get away with it.
50 mins: A break in play as Catley receives treatment; she’s OK to continue.
48 mins: Lauren James gets involved, cutting inside and dribbling past Walti. With the centre-backs standing off, she sends her shot narrowly wide of Zinsberger’s left-hand post.
47 mins: Buchanan makes an immediate impact, a fine sliding tackle stopping Mead from getting a shot away. Arsenal win it back, but Pelova’s effort from the edge of the area is comfortable for Berger.
46 mins: Hayes was clearly unhappy with Arsenal’s ability to create chances down the left, bringing on Lawrence at right-back and Buchanan next to her at centre-back.
Peep!
The second half is under way – and Emma Hayes has made three changes at the break. Fran Kirby, Ashley Lawrence and Kadeisha Buchanan are on; Nüsken, Périsset and Mjelde go off.
There were a fair few empty seats around the Emirates at kick-off – apparently there have been travel problems for many fans, particularly between Reading and Paddington. It certainly filled up as the first half went on.
Whamageddon! “Last Christmas” chimes out over the PA, and thousands of fans – and myself – are eliminated from the festive song-dodging game.
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Half time! Arsenal 3-1 Chelsea
Chelsea see off the corner, but they head in two goals down at the Emirates. Arsenal are good value for their lead, showing more attacking intent and finding a second wind after Kaneryd’s equaliser. More soon.
49 mins: At the other end, Little’s snap-shot is blocked by Mjelde. Arsenal come again, and Mead’s dangerous cross is flicked off Little’s head by Mjelde, and behind for a corner.
47 mins: Kaneryd has switched sides with Lauren James and is now attacking down the left, but she finds herself isolated after carrying the ball upfield.
45 mins: A frustrated foul from Charles, bringing down Katie McCabe and allowing Arsenal to relieve the pressure. There will be five added minutes.
44 mins: Chelsea have had to scrap their counterattacking approach and push players forward. Kaneryd and Fleming combine to set up Cuthbert, whose shot is parried awkwardly by Zinsberger. Sam Kerr is lurking but Arsenal are able to clear the danger.
Here’s the moment Alessia Russo put Arsenal two goals up:
A cool finish from Alessia Russo 😮💨
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) December 10, 2023
Arsenal are enjoying themselves now!#BBCWSL #BBCFootball pic.twitter.com/kSpDpCcznS
42 mins: They are forced to work the ball backwards, before Perisset’s pass drifts out of play. It’s not been Chelsea’s half.
41 mins: Chelsea look to hit back before half-time, Arsenal scrambling a cross away before conceding a free kick. James’ cross is headed clear by McCabe, but Chelsea keep the pressure on …
Arsenal stroke the ball around defence and then launched a quick attack, with Russo latching on to Catley’s perfectly-timed long pass. Looking just onside, she holds off Mjelde and fires clinically into the far corner!
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GOAL! Arsenal 3-1 Chelsea (Russo 38')
Virtually from the restart, Arsenal have a third goal and the Emirates is rocking!
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GOAL! Arsenal 2-1 Chelsea (Ilestedt 36')
Arsenal retake the lead! Amanda Ilestedt climbs highest to head beyond Berger, who came off her line but didn’t get near the ball. On the touchline, Hayes rolls her eyes ruefully.
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34 mins: Arsenal push forward again, Little spreading the play left to Foord, whose cross is headed behind by Charles …
32 mins: There’s a break in play while Nüsken is treated for a head injury, suffered in an innocuous tussle with Kim Little. We can see Hayes having words with Lauren James on the touchline while Eidevall, in outsized black Adidas shacket and cap, looks like he’s rocked up from playing a Room Two set at Fabric.
30 mins: More intricate attacking play from Arsenal, Steph Catley played in down the left and cutting back – but the hosts are short on numbers in the penalty area.
29 mins: Zinsberger, under pressure from Kerr, does well to find a red shirt with her clearance. I didn’t see what happened before, because the BBC keep showing slo-mo replays while the game is going on.
28 mins: James is brought down by Mead to win a free kick. She has had a limited impact going forward but is doing well to slow Arsenal down in midfield.
26 mins: McCabe’s clearance in her own half is picked up by Cuthbert, who is fouled. From the free-kick, Fleming can’t connect cleanly with her shot from a tight angle.
25 mins: A spell of Chelsea possession ends when McCabe shunts James off the ball and concedes a free kick.
23 mins: Mead’s cross is overhit but is headed back across goal by McCabe. Chelsea are able to clear and we revert to the previous pattern of play, with the visitors looking to sit back and hit on the break.
22 mins: Foord twists away from Perisset down the left, winning a dangerous free kick which Mead will take …
20 mins: The rain is falling steadily and a few heavy challenges are flying in. The impressive Pelova looks to unpick Chelsea again, but Mjelde cuts out her attempted through ball.
Here’s the Chelsea goal. Was Sam Kerr interfering with play? You decide.
What a start at the Emirates! Chelsea are level 😮#BBCWSL #BBCFootball pic.twitter.com/wjbdKWi5ZA
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) December 10, 2023
18 mins: Arsenal look to respond, and a fine Pelova pass frees Little, whose low ball to the back post is cleared by Perisset with Russo waiting to pounce.
Cuthbert’s composed turn and pass to Fleming opens up the Arsenal defence, and she plays the ball right to Kaneryd, who cuts inside and fires a low shot inside the near post. Kerr was offside and may well have been in the goalkeeper’s eyeline, but there’s no VAR here today.
GOAL! Arsenal 1-1 Chelsea (Kaneryd 13')
Wow. Chelsea have been on the back foot since kick-off, but they break downfield and Johanna Kaneryd fires in the equaliser against the run of play!
10 mins: At the other end, Fleming immediately tests Zinsberger from 20 yards out – the keeper palms it away with relative comfort.
Kim Little rides a couple of clumsy tackles to break into the box and find Pelova, who shows great composure to turn and find Beth Mead on the right. She takes a touch inside and with Berger out of position, lashes the ball into the roof of the net!
GOAL! Arsenal 1-0 Chelsea (Mead 8')
Beth Mead with a belting finish, and Arsenal lead!
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7 mins: Kerr, a little isolated up front, tries and fails to find a teammate, and Arsenal surge forward again …
6 mins: Arsenal have made the brighter start, and Russo almost gets in behind Carter, with Ann-Katrin Berger clearing the danger at the second attempt.
4 mins: Kerr looks to get in behind the high Arsenal back-line, but is caught offside.
3 mins: Lovely attacking move down the left, McCabe bursting down the right and Little backheeling into the path of Russo – but Niamh Charles is there to make a crucial intervention!
2 mins: Cuthbert is penalised for a foul on Little in midfield. Arsenal push forward but the offside flag is raised.
Peep!
The players take a knee before the referee, Rebecca Welch, gets us under way.
Sir Elton’s “Step Into Christmas” is absolutely blaring over the Emirates Stadium PA. Is the announcer about to unleash Whamageddon on the thousands of fans in attendance? Let’s hope not.
Here’s Jonas Eidevall on having the likes of Beth Mead and Kim Little fit again: “It’s great having quality players back for us, it’s not been easy to pick a starting XI today. It’s a great problem to have.”
And Emma Hayes on Sam Kerr, who missed Australia duty to recover from an injury: “Sam played through the World Cup with a calf injury, and has been carrying that, and another issue within her foot. She’s needed time to get herself right because she hasn’t been 100%”.
Jonas Eidevall makes two changes from the team that beat West Ham before the international break. Lia Wälti and Kim Little come in for Kyra Cooney-Cross and Frida Maanum.
Sjoeke Nüsken and Jessie Fleming come in for Chelsea, with Sophie Ingle and Fran Kirby dropping to the bench. The big news is that Sam Kerr has recovered from a foot injury to captain the side today.
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The teams
Arsenal (4-2-3-1): Zinsberger; McCabe, Ilestedt, Wubben-Moy, Catley; Pelova, Wälti; Mead, Little (c), Foord; Russo.
Subs: Beattie, Miedema, Maanum, D’Angelo, Maritz, Lacasse, Blackstenius, Codina, Cooney-Cross.
Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Berger; Périsset, Mjelde, Carter, Charles; Nüsken, Cuthbert; Kaneryd, Fleming, James; Kerr (c).
Subs: Musovic, Fishel, Ingle, Reiten, Lawrence, Kirby, Hampton, Buchanan, Beever-Jones.
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The Arsenal team has dropped …
🔴 𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠𝙉𝙀𝙒𝙎 ⚪️
— Arsenal Women (@ArsenalWFC) December 10, 2023
🔙 Little returns
🪄 Meado on the wing
⭐️ Russo leads the line
Let's do this - together ❤️ pic.twitter.com/mnuvt9uIhn
… and here’s the Chelsea line-up.
Your Chelsea today! 🔵#CFCW pic.twitter.com/n1uuoJNG67
— Chelsea FC Women (@ChelseaFCW) December 10, 2023
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Preamble
This game could earn a place in history before it begins, with Arsenal set to break their own WSL attendance record at a close-to-sold-out Emirates. This fixture is a fitting occasion for a record crowd, given both of these loval rivals’ star-studded squads and crowded trophy cabinets.
What happens on the pitch ought to be memorable, too. Arsenal began the season with dropped points and a big injury list, but have rallied to sit just three points behind Chelsea. The champions have experienced turmoil of their own, but even Emma Hayes’ upcoming departure has not shaken her team’s imperious form, with seven wins and one draw so far.
These two London rivals look the most likely to stay the course in an open title race, with plenty of excitement despite the stop-start calendar. Resuming after another international break, both teams will play just one further league game before the WSL’s month-long winter break.
That means today’s result is likely to have a lingering impact on the title race. Chelsea are seeking a win to shut down their rivals’ growing momentum; Arsenal are aiming to expose fragility within the league leaders. It’s a big game, on and off the field. Kick-off is at 12.30pm, GMT.
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