Arsenal: Van Domselaar; Fox, Wubben-Moy, Catley, McCabe; Pelova, Mariona; Mead, Russo, Foord; Blackstenius
Substitutes: Borbe, Codina, Maanum, Smith, Kelly, Nighswonger, Hinds, Cooney-Cross, Harwood
Arsenal’s title hopes are hanging by a thread after drawing 1-1 with Chelsea. Chelsea went ahead in the first half, but Alessia Russo equalised 3 minutes from time. The bigger talking point, though, will be two Arsenal goals controversially ruled out.
Renée Slegers made three changes, as Lotte Wubben-Moy replaced Laia Codina, Victoria Pelova replaced the injured Kim Little, and Katie McCabe replaced Taylor Hinds.
Chelsea hit the post, as Macario came short and slipped in Kaneryd with a ball around the corner, but her slotted shot bounced off the upright.
Chelsea were dominant, and took the lead on 9 minutes. They again got behind midfield, with Thompson getting behind Mariona and driving through the center. Wubben-Moy came out to engage, Thompson played a one-two and curled a shot beyond Van Domselaar into the far corner. [0-1](https://x.com/BarclaysWSL/status/1987131779438817405).
Blackstenius won a corner, and Cuthbert mishit the delivery with Hampton forced to parry away.
At the other end, Macario’s rasping shot was pushed up by Van Domselaar and looped onto the the crossbar, with Van Domselaar getting up and parrying the ball away from goal.
Foord drove into the box, getting away from Bronze. She found Mariona, but her first touch was heavy and Cuthbert cleared it for a corner.
On 34 minutes, Bronze intercepted a lazy McCabe throw in and curled her shot just wide of Van Domselaar’s far post.
Bright’s touch was loose, and Mead slid, playing what turned out to be a through ball but Bright got a touch before Blackstenius could get on to the bll and Hampton gathered. Hampton then saved from Blackstenius after Foord played into her, and then Arsenal counter-pressure saw Chelsea lose the ball in the box but Mariona’s shot was too easy for Hampton to save.
Two blocks from Wubben-Moy prevented Chelsea from adding a second goal in the 51st minute. Bronze’s backheel slipped in Kaptein, and her first attempt was block as was the rebound. The ball came to Charles, whose shot was parried away by Van Domselaar.
Arsenal thought they’d equalised on 54 minutes through Stina Blackstenius. Foord won a corner off of Bronze and Mead’s delivery was met by Charles, with the loose ball coming to Blackstenius who fired into the roof of the net. However, the goal was ruled out for handball, a call that the Manchester-based referee made up, as the ball came off of Blackstenius’ stomach.
Arsenal made a double substitution on 61 minutes. Taylor Hinds replaced McCabe and Olivia Smith replaced Beth Mead.
On 71 minutes Maanum replaced Blackstenius and Cooney-Cross replaced Pelova.
Russo turned well and played in Maanum but she miscontrolled the ball.
Chelsea broke through Carpenter, who drove down the pitch. She found Kerr in the center who tried to backheel for Cuthbert but Arsenal cleared.
On 78 minutes Chloe Kelly replaced Caitlin Foord.
Kelly, who put a decent chance out for a throw, shot from the edge of the box with Hampton saving.
On 85 minutes, Smith got down the side and found Maanum, whose shot was deflected out for a corner. Arsenal couldn’t create a chance from the corner, though.
Arsenal equalised on 87 minutes. Keeping the ball alive in midfield, Maanum hooked the ball over the top. Russo met it with her side foot, and had enough power on the shot to beat Hampton. [1-1](https://streamin.link/v/4a189e2a).
In the 90th minute, Russo drove through the middle and played Maanum through on goal, and she chipped Hampton but the flag went up for offside. On replay, it looked extremely close, but there’s obviously no VAR in the WSL, which is the story of the second half.