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Chelsea 0-0 Arsenal: WSL’s top two end goalless despite late drama

Arsenal maintained their two-point advantage over Chelsea at the top of the Women’s Super League table after a dramatic draw at Kingsmeadow that somehow ended goalless.

In front of a sell-out crowd, the WSL’s top two delivered an action-packed display with both sides coming close to breaking the deadlock.

The Gunners almost won it late on when back-to-back corners were scrambled off the line by Chelsea defender Millie Bright, drawing gasps from the 3,330 fans in the ground.

But the drama did not end there as eight minutes of added time followed, and during that time Chelsea’s Jessie Fleming had a goal disallowed for offside, before there were huge penalty appeals for handball by Leah Williamson from the hosts.

The encounter epitomised this season’s topsy-turvy WSL title race, with end-to-end action until the last second of the match.

Emma Hayes was particularly frustrated by Chelsea’s late penalty appeal being denied, while Arsenal boss Jonas Eidevall frantically waved away the notion Williamson had handled it.

“From our perspective it was a clear penalty,” said the Chelsea boss. “The whole stadium felt it was, even the Arsenal bench probably did.

“The referee looked at Leah Williamson and asked did you handball it? Of course she said she didn’t. We missed a big decision.”

Eidevall told Sky Sports: “It is the referee’s decision in the end. Maybe that could have been a penalty against us, maybe we should have had a penalty before and we wouldn’t have been in that situation.”

Top two deliver a thriller

This game promised to be one of the most thrilling of the season and it did not disappoint.

There was plenty of spice on and off the pitch, with supporters taunting each other throughout, while both managers were animated on the touchline.

Vivianne Miedema struck the post during a bright spell for Arsenal in the first half but Chelsea had numerous chances after the break.

The visitors threw their bodies on the line at times and Chelsea’s prolific front three – Sam Kerr, Fran Kirby and Pernille Harder – were unable to take their chances.

While Chelsea were denied a strong penalty appeal in stoppage time, there were two spot-kick shouts from Arsenal either side of the break – both involving defender Jess Carter and Australian forward Caitlin Foord, but neither were given.

Fran Kirby
Fran Kirby was among those who had chances for Chelsea in the second half

‘Tiredness showed in attack’

Chelsea have a game in hand on Arsenal so there is everything still to play for in this title race, while all eyes will be on Sunday’s derby as third-placed Manchester United will reduce the gap to Chelsea to one point if they pick up a win over rivals Manchester City.

Hayes said a draw with their London rivals was a fair result, although she felt her team were not at their usual attacking best.

“The accumulation of games showed in us tonight. I didn’t think we were free-flowing by our standards going forward, but we were rock-solid defensively,” she said.

“I thought we struggled in the first half – Arsenal’s best moments in terms of dominance were in the first half. We created some big chances which weren’t to be in the second half.”

Eidevall, whose side suffered a heavy defeat against Chelsea in the FA Cup final in December, said his side should be “proud” of their display against the league champions.

“It was one of the big things we talked about, being better on the ball against those top teams,” he said.

“Chelsea tried to press us high at moments but we played through that pressure. That was really pleasing to see.”

A draw maintains Arsenal’s advantage – although Chelsea can still overtake them should they win their game in hand – but competition lower down the table has already proven tough for both sides this season and there is likely to be further drama in the title race.

Line-ups

Chelsea Women

Formation 4-3-3

  • 30Berger
  • 7Carter
  • 4Bright
  • 3Nouwen
  • 25Andersson
  • 22CuthbertSubstituted forJiat 58′minutes
  • 5Ingle
  • 11ReitenBooked at 52minsSubstituted forCharlesat 82′minutes
  • 14KirbySubstituted forFlemingat 82′minutes
  • 20Kerr
  • 23Harder

Substitutes

  • 1Musovic
  • 10Ji
  • 17Fleming
  • 19James
  • 21Charles
  • 24Spence
  • 27Abdullina

Arsenal Women

Formation 4-3-3

  • 1Zinsberger
  • 16MaritzBooked at 44minsSubstituted forWienroitherat 72′minutes
  • 6Williamson
  • 2Carvalho SouzaSubstituted forMaanumat 64′minutes
  • 7Catley
  • 10Little
  • 13WältiBooked at 53mins
  • 11MiedemaSubstituted forNobbsat 90′minutes
  • 9MeadSubstituted forParrisat 72′minutes
  • 25Blackstenius
  • 19Foord

Substitutes

  • 5Beattie
  • 8Nobbs
  • 12Maanum
  • 14Parris
  • 18Williams
  • 20Boye Sørensen
  • 23Iwabuchi
  • 26Wienroither
  • 77Heath

Referee:
Rebecca Welch

Attendance:
3,330

Match Stats

Live Text

  1. Match ends, Chelsea Women 0, Arsenal Women 0.

  2. Second Half ends, Chelsea Women 0, Arsenal Women 0.

  3. Attempt saved. Sam Kerr (Chelsea Women) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Jessie Fleming.

  4. Nikita Parris (Arsenal Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  5. Foul by Niamh Charles (Chelsea Women).

  6. Offside, Chelsea Women. Sophie Ingle tries a through ball, but Sam Kerr is caught offside.

  7. Foul by Caitlin Foord (Arsenal Women).

  8. Ann-Katrin Berger (Chelsea Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  9. Corner, Arsenal Women. Conceded by Jessica Carter.

  10. Substitution, Arsenal Women. Jordan Nobbs replaces Vivianne Miedema because of an injury.

  11. Attempt blocked. Vivianne Miedema (Arsenal Women) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.

  12. Corner, Arsenal Women. Conceded by Pernille Harder.

  13. Attempt blocked. Frida Maanum (Arsenal Women) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked.

  14. Attempt blocked. Stina Blackstenius (Arsenal Women) header from very close range is blocked.

  15. Foul by Jessica Carter (Chelsea Women).

  16. Caitlin Foord (Arsenal Women) wins a free kick on the left wing.

  17. Substitution, Chelsea Women. Jessie Fleming replaces Fran Kirby.

  18. Substitution, Chelsea Women. Niamh Charles replaces Guro Reiten.

  19. Attempt saved. Frida Maanum (Arsenal Women) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.

  20. Corner, Arsenal Women. Conceded by Millie Bright.

Sourced From BBC

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