Blues make title statement
Chelsea were at their fluid, rampant and ruthless best in their 3-1 defeat of Arsenal at Stamford Bridge. How the team coped with a depleted squad and off-field controversies – Emma Hayes’s comments on relationships between players, which she clarified after the match – as well as the 30-minute delay to kick-off due to Arsenal’s wrong socks, was impressive. “We seem to do really well in adverse situations,” Hayes said. “It’s been a tough period, it’s been a tough day for us but we’re good at this, we know how to do this.” The odds on Chelsea winning a first ever Champions League, a historic quadruple, or even maintaining their domestic competitiveness have lengthened with each major injury, but time and time again Hayes has shown she can defy those odds. Betting against Chelsea would be a fool’s errand. Suzanne Wrack
