Live Blog: Chelsea Women vs Arsenal Women

Freddie Cardy's Live Blog as Arsenal Women travel across London to take on Chelsea Women in the WSL



Live Blog: Chelsea Women vs Arsenal Women

Katie McCabe of Arsenal shielding the ball from Johanna Rytting Kaneryd of Chelsea during the team's WSL clash at the Emirates in January which ended in a 1-1 draw. CREDIT: Mark Leech/OFFSIDE


Live BLog Sunday May 21st

Please stand-by, this page will automatically update with live commentary and comments

  1. Freddie Cardy: 14:30 #2185

    Arsenal host Aston Villa on the final day of the season, with title hopes over and Champions League football not quite secured just yet. There's also the return of Jordan Nobbs to look forward to! We'll see you all there...

  2. Freddie Cardy: 14:30 #2184

    Arsenal are three points above Manchester City ahead of this evening's Manchester derby, and they have a better goal difference.

  3. Freddie Cardy: 14:29 #2183

    One Step Beyond blasts out around Kingsmeadow. Chelsea are one step away from winning a fourth consecutive title, and they may well have just taken that step, as Manchester City can finish things off later on today.

  4. Freddie Cardy: 14:26 #2182

    Katie McCabe missed a penalty and Foord hit the crossbar in the second half as Arsenal put in yet another valiant effort that in the end was in vain. Chelsea will be crowned champions if Manchester United fail to win this evening

  5. Freddie Cardy: 14:25 #2181

    FULL TIME: Chelsea 2-0 Arsenal!

  6. Freddie Cardy: 14:24 #2180

    94' Almost an own goal for Wubben-Moy as Fleming tried to square to Kerr. Wubben-Moy's block had to be saved by Zinsberger. 2-0

  7. Freddie Cardy: 14:23 #2179

    93' Chelsea are moving the ball around at ease as they coast towards victory, but it's certainly not been an easy second half for the Blues after they had blown Arsenal away before half time. 2-0

  8. Freddie Cardy: 14:22 #2178

    The Arsenal fans have never stopped singing at Kingsmeadow, with every player as well as Jonas Eidevall all serenaded. Fantastic support all season long!

  9. Freddie Cardy: 14:20 #2177

    91' 5 minutes of added time. 2-0

  10. Freddie Cardy: 14:20 #2176

    90' Dipping effort from Reiten is over the bar after Rafaelle's clearance. 2-0

  11. Freddie Cardy: 14:18 #2175

    88' Gio is on for Beattie. Too little too late for Arsenal who switch to a back four. 2-0

  12. Freddie Cardy: 14:17 #2174

    87' The corner is taken short and Catley creates enough of an angle to unleash a shot, which is saved well by Berger. 2-0

  13. Freddie Cardy: 14:16 #2173

    86' Half volley from Cuthbert is blocked by her compatriot Jen Beattie as Chelsea try to finish the game strongly. Lina Hurtig wins a corner for Arsenal up the other end. 2-0

  14. Freddie Cardy: 14:14 #2172

    84' Centre back Khadija Buchanan is on for Eve Perisset. 2-0

  15. Freddie Cardy: 14:13 #2171

    83' Foord bursts past Perisset before finding Pelova, who runs into trouble and Chelsea win back possession. 2-0

  16. Freddie Cardy: 14:11 #2170

    80' The attendance is a very satisfying 3,456 at Kingsmeadow. Arsenal bring on Lina Hurtig for Noelle Maritz. 2-0

  17. Freddie Cardy: 14:07 #2169

    78' Mjelde takes out Foord and Arsenal have a free kick. A brief stoppage with an incident in the crowd that is under control now, so play will resume with a poor free kick that goes behind. 2-0

  18. Freddie Cardy: 14:05 #2168

    75' Foord goes for a curling effort and it's saved by Berger. Chelsea just starting to slow down proceedings at Kingsmeadow. 2-0

  19. Freddie Cardy: 14:04 #2167

    74' Maybe there is... Jodie Taylor replaces Stina Blackstenius upfront. 2-0

  20. Freddie Cardy: 14:03 #2166

    73' Pernille Harder leaves the Kingsmeadow turf for the final time as a Chelsea player and is given an ovation by the Chelsea fans, with Jessie Fleming coming on. No signs of activity in the opposite dugout. 2-0

  21. Freddie Cardy: 14:00 #2165

    Arsenal have hit the crossbar and missed a penalty in this second half but still have it all to do to come back into this game.

  22. Freddie Cardy: 13:59 #2164

    69' Chelsea finally put some pressure back on with a deep free kick to the back post that Zinsberger was able to get to under pressure from Ingle. 2-0

  23. Freddie Cardy: 13:57 #2163

    67' Pelova tees up Blackstenius on the edge of the box and her shot is straight at Berger. 2-0

  24. Freddie Cardy: 13:55 #2162

    65' Catley moves the ball wide to Maanum and her left footed cross is mishit over the crossbar. 2-0

  25. Freddie Cardy: 13:54 #2161

    64' If McCabe found the back of the net there and made it 2-1 with half an hour to go... well it's not worth thinking about. Arsenal continue their pressure and have a corner. 2-0

  26. Freddie Cardy: 13:52 #2160

    63' Defender Jess Carter is on for forward Lauren James for Chelsea. 2-0

  27. Freddie Cardy: 13:52 #2159

    62' Maanum tests Berger from range once again, hitting a crisp first time effort that forces her into another save. That penalty miss doesn't seem to have knocked Arsenal's confidence. 2-0

  28. Freddie Cardy: 13:51 #2158

    60' Katie McCabe drags the penalty WIDE! It's the second penalty miss in a row for McCabe and it's a really poor one, a massive chance goes begging. 2-0

  29. Freddie Cardy: 13:50 #2157

    60' McCabe will take...

  30. Freddie Cardy: 13:49 #2156

    59' Is it a penalty for Arsenal for handball by Sophie Ingle? I think it might be! Clear handball from Ingle and Arsenal have a huge opportunity! 2-0

  31. Freddie Cardy: 13:48 #2155

    58' There's just more of an air of composure about this Arsenal side in the second half, with Chelsea subdued so far and Arsenal continuing to create chances. 2-0

  32. Freddie Cardy: 13:46 #2154

    56' Foord flashes a cross across the face of goal and out for a throw in. 2-0

  33. Freddie Cardy: 13:43 #2153

    52' Foord hits the CROSSBAR from close range! Pelova's ball came into her at pace and Foord could only divert it onto the bar. 2-0

  34. Freddie Cardy: 13:41 #2152

    40 minutes have been played in the other WSL game so far, with Everton beating Brighton 1-0.

  35. Freddie Cardy: 13:40 #2151

    50' McCabe was marking the back post at that corner and that's why defenders do stay on the posts- she heads away Harder's header for another corner, which Arsenal deal with. 2-0

  36. Freddie Cardy: 13:39 #2150

    49' Harder turns inside and gets a shot off and Zinsberger had to get down to her right quickly to save with her right foot. 2-0

  37. Freddie Cardy: 13:38 #2149

    48' Straight away Catley is played through by Foord down the left and swings in a cross to Pelova, who heads it down to Foord but she can't get it under control. 2-0

  38. Freddie Cardy: 13:37 #2148

    47' Jonas Eidevall is in an all-green coat and trousers, looking very prepared for either a sailing trip or walking weekend somewhere rainy. 2-0

  39. Freddie Cardy: 13:36 #2147

    46' McCabe will push up the field and you'd imagine that there could be questions on why Catley didn't start if she is fully fit. 2-0

  40. Freddie Cardy: 13:35 #2146

    Catley is on for Kuhl and we're UNDERWAY for the second half. 2-0

  41. Freddie Cardy: 13:33 #2145

    Looks like Steph Catley will be coming on for Arsenal.

  42. Freddie Cardy: 13:20 #2144

    It really could have been more for the Blues who have been carving apart this Arsenal side, taking the lead through Reiten's finish at the back post before Eriksson bundled home a second before half time. Arsenal have had chances through the likes of Blackstenius and Maanum but you get the feeling that Chelsea haven't even reached top gear yet.

  43. Freddie Cardy: 13:18 #2143

    HALF TIME: Chelsea 2-0 Arsenal

  44. Freddie Cardy: 13:17 #2142

    48' Terrible free kick from Reiten that floats behind for a goal kick but she sees the funny side, and why not. Her delivery that led to Chelsea's second was spot on, and it was her finish that put the Blues 1-0 up. 2-0

  45. Freddie Cardy: 13:16 #2141

    46' Katie McCabe is booked and continues to protest to the referee. She had clipped Perisset from behind in a painful one for the right back. 2-0

  46. Freddie Cardy: 13:15 #2140

    46' 2 minutes of added time. 2-0

  47. Freddie Cardy: 13:15 #2139

    45' Foord is dispossessed as Arsenal let an attack go begging. Ingle pings the ball into the path of Kerr who drags a shot wide. 2-0

  48. Freddie Cardy: 13:13 #2138

    43' There was that dreaded goal before half time, coming from Eriksson on her final game at Kingsmeadow as a Chelsea player. 2-0

  49. Freddie Cardy: 13:11 #2137

    GOAL! Chelsea 2-0 Arsenal! Magda Eriksson may be leaving the club soon but she has popped up with a crucial goal here, meeting Kerr's header to stab the ball past Zinsberger. 2-0

  50. Freddie Cardy: 13:10 #2136

    40' Rafaelle heads away Perisset's free kick only as far as Harder, who's cross is not dealt with at all by the Arsenal defence but somehow manages to find the grateful arms of Zinsberger. 1-0

  51. Freddie Cardy: 13:09 #2135

    39' Chelsea have scored 18 goals in just under 3 and a half WSL games now. Arsenal have to do all they can to make sure that number does not increase before half time. 1-0

  52. Freddie Cardy: 13:08 #2134

    38' Dangerous run by James who pulls the ball back but it's met by an Arsenal player. 1-0

  53. Freddie Cardy: 13:04 #2133

    35' Sam Kerr is booked, presumably for an off the ball incident, perhaps a word in the ear of the referee. 1-0

  54. Freddie Cardy: 13:02 #2132

    32' Berger was a long way from goal after a misplaced clearance and Pelova picked up the ball a long way out and tried to find the back of the net, but Mjelde was there to chest it down. 1-0

  55. Freddie Cardy: 13:01 #2131

    32' Maanum does go for goal from range, it's not a bad effort but it was a routine enough save for Berger. 1-0

  56. Freddie Cardy: 13:01 #2130

    31' James bodies McCabe from behind and the referee blows for a clear foul by the England winger. Free kick about 25 yards from goal, it's very straight. 1-0

  57. Freddie Cardy: 12:59 #2129

    29' Zinsberger denies Kerr after the Aussie drove into the box and opened up her body to get the shot away but Zinsberger made herself big to make the stop. 1-0

  58. Freddie Cardy: 12:57 #2128

    26' Emma Hayes is looking pretty relaxed in the dugout as Chelsea go five points clear of Manchester United at the top of the table. Maanum unleashes a long range strike and it was an unconvincing stop from Berger, with the ball almost creeping over the line! 1-0

  59. Freddie Cardy: 12:53 #2127

    23' It's a clever finish from Reiten who had to stretch to get her shot away at the back post, and she did really well to find the corner. 1-0

  60. Freddie Cardy: 12:52 #2126

    GOAL! Chelsea 1-0 Arsenal! Guro Reiten is in fine form and that's a huge goal in the title race from the Norwegian. 1-0

  61. Freddie Cardy: 12:51 #2125

    21' Kuhl with a little dink to try and slip through Blackstenius but it's into the arms of Berger. 0-0

  62. Freddie Cardy: 12:49 #2124

    20' Arsenal are getting bodies back behind the ball more effectively now and cutting out the passing lanes as Chelsea are forced to move from side to side. 0-0

  63. Freddie Cardy: 12:47 #2123

    17' Lovely spin from Kuhl to turn away from Niamh Charles, who if I remember rightly really struggled against Foord in Chelsea's FA Cup win at Kingsmeadow earlier this season. Arsenal are starting to find a foothold in this game. 0-0

  64. Freddie Cardy: 12:43 #2122

    13' Strong save by Berger to deny Blackstenius one-on-one from close range! Foord slipped the ball through but Berger was quick off her line to make the stop. 0-0

  65. Freddie Cardy: 12:41 #2121

    11' That Conti Cup final win seems like a loooooong time ago... 0-0

  66. Freddie Cardy: 12:40 #2120

    10' Sam Kerr has the ball in the net but she was a long way offside before slotting the ball past Zinsberger, and the flag is promptly raised. 0-0

  67. Freddie Cardy: 12:39 #2119

    9' Long ball over the top from Chelsea but Wubben-Moy again was able to make the key tackle, judging it well. 0-0

  68. Freddie Cardy: 12:37 #2118

    7' First signs of intent from Arsenal as Kuhl squares to McCabe on the edge of the box but she gives the ball away before Chelsea counter, and Reiten's shot goes wide. 0-0

  69. Freddie Cardy: 12:36 #2117

    6' Superb slide tackle from Wubben-Moy to deny Reiten after some great link up play from Chelsea's attackers. Maanum and Pelova are struggling at the base of midfield, with Arsenal without Lia Walti for the remainder of the season. 0-0

  70. Freddie Cardy: 12:34 #2116

    5' Kerr plays through Harder and the flag initially stayed down- Harder got her shot away from a narrow angle and Zinsberger made a strong save before the flag then went up. 0-0

  71. Freddie Cardy: 12:33 #2115

    3' Lauren James glides past Beattie way too easily but McCabe manages to stop her progress on the edge of the box and Arsenal can clear. All Chelsea in the early stages. 0-0

  72. Freddie Cardy: 12:32 #2114

    A reminder of the permutations today- If Chelsea beat Arsenal and Manchester United lose or draw against Manchester City this evening, Chelsea will be crowned WSL champions for a fourth successive year.

  73. Freddie Cardy: 12:31 #2113

    1' The first attack comes through Chelsea and Reiten gets into the box but her cross is dealt with by Manu Zinsberger in her 101st Arsenal appearance. 0-0

  74. Freddie Cardy: 12:30 #2112

    1' The teams both take the knee and we are UNDERWAY at Kingsmeadow! 0-0

  75. Freddie Cardy: 12:06 #2111

    Hello and welcome to Freddie Cardy's Gooner Fanzine live blog! It's Chelsea vs Arsenal in the Women's Super League this Sunday lunchtime with Jonas Eidevall's side aiming to seal qualification for next season's Champions League


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