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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Jack Lacey-Hatton

Chelsea close in on fourth straight WSL title after downing Arsenal - 6 talking points

Chelsea are on the verge of a fourth straight WSL title after seeing off Arsenal 2-0 at Kingsmeadow.

The Blues will be mathematically confirmed as champions if Man Utd fail to win this evening's Manchester derby. Even if United keep the race alive, a win at Reading on the final day next week will seal the league and cup double for a third year on the bounce for Chelsea.

The opener came when one of their players of the season, Guro Reiten, slid home at the back post to beat Manuela Zinsberger after an excellent cross from Eve Perisset. Captain Magda Eriksson then sealed her dream finale from Kingsmeadow by arriving late in the box to put Chelsea two to the good before half-time.

Arsenal were the better side after the break but Katie McCabe crucially missed a penalty as Chelsea held out for a huge win.

Here are the talking points from Kingsmeadow.

Reiten sets Chelsea on course for the title

Emma Hayes' team started this one like they meant business. With the title in their sights, Chelsea were fast out of the traps and quick to test Zinsberger in the Arsenal goal.

The only needed 22 minutes to make the breakthrough and it came from one of their players of the season. Guro Reiten got her 12th of the season when getting on the end of Perisset's perfect cross.

It was a goal that summed up her season. Clever movement in the box and an ice cold finish to match. From that point on the Blues weren't letting the three points out of their sight.

Guro Reiten fired Chelsea into the lead (Getty Images)

Perfect farewell for Eriksson and Harder

Chelsea confirmed this week that both captain Magda Eriksson and record signing Pernille Harder would be leaving the club this summer. The pair have played their part in the Blues dominance of the women's game over the past five years, so it was only right they left their home stage with a victory.

And the skipper even managed to sign off with a goal on her Kingsmeadow finale. Reiten chipped in a free-kick five minutes before the break, met by Sam Kerr.

Her header fell into the danger zone where Eriksson rammed the ball home from close range. A deserved sign-off for one of the club's best ambassadors in recent years.

Magdalena Eriksson of Chelsea celebrates (Getty Images)

Berger stays strong when Chelsea need her

Although the hosts created the majority of chances, when goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger was called upon, she once again delivered on the big occasion. Only minutes after Chelsea took the lead, the German stopper kept out a curling effort from Frida Maanum that looked destined for the goal.

The ball spun backwards and very nearly dropped in, instead coming back off the woodwork. Berger then did well to hold onto Maanum's long-range free-kick as Arsenal tried to find a way back.

Every great side needs a great goalkeeper and Berger has more than played her part in a season that now looks set to deliver Chelsea a fourth straight title. When she then made a wonderful full length dive to deny Maanum in the second half, the hosts were about to take a big step in their title pursuit.

McCabe misses chance to haul Arsenal back into the contest

Arsenal were much better after the break and were given a lifeline on the hour mark. Katie McCabe's volley was blocked by the outstretched arm of Sophie Ingle and referee Abi Byrne pointed to the spot.

McCabe stepped up for the visitors from 12 yards and managed to send Berger the wrong way. Sadly for Arsenal her spot-kick was dragged wide, to leave three of the four corners of Kingsmeadow celebrating wildly.

Fourth instalment of London derby series the most physical yet

It is to be expected when so much was on the line for both clubs. But this was a physical battle from the word go.

This was the fourth meeting between the two sides since the turn of the year and the first since the Conti Cup final where Arsenal came out on top. Clearly there remains no love lost between the two, with the contest regularly hitting boiling point.

Katie McCabe flew in a number of strong tackles, while Berger's standout timeout riled up the away section into a "same old Chelsea, always cheating" chant. When McCabe was then booked for a challenge so late it will probably arrive next week on Perisset, it looked like the Gunners were losing their cool.

Kingsmeadow can still create big game atmosphere

Both these clubs have played multiple fixtures at their men's stadiums throughout this season. So perhaps some may have felt that such an important game had outgrown Kingsmeadow, Chelsea's regular home.

But despite the smaller capacity, the occasion still had a big match feel. A packed out Arsenal away end were making their voices heard over an hour before kick-off, roaring their heroes onto the field just for the warm-up.

Chelsea fans meanwhile were offered complimentary flags and scarves around the ground, which helped to create a backdrop fitting of such a big fixture. Title showdowns in women's football may soon be exclusively in the larger stadia, but today was a reminder Kingsmeadow still very much feels home for the Chelsea women's side.

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