Arenal advanced to the semi final of the UEFA Women’s Champions League despite a 1-0 loss to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
It was a night in West London where tempers flared and Chelsea head coach Sonia Bompastor was sent off after late drama.
Arsenal and Chelsea had faced off at Stamford Bridge earlier this year and it was visitors Arsenal who ran out 2-0 victors in the Barclays Women’s Super League in January. Just last week the Gunners overcame the Blues once again by a two goal margin, 3-1 on the night and this time in the UWCL. That meant that Chelsea came into this one chasing a two goal deficit, knowing only victory by two goals or more would keep them in the competition.
Chelsea had eked out a 4-3 victory over Aston Villa on Sunday and came into this one low on numbers. The encounter had come too soon for both Chelsea captain Millie Bright and young star striker Aggie Beever-Jones who remain side-lined with injury. Naomi Girma lost her place for perhaps Chelsea’s most consequential match of the season and Sandy Baltimore also dropped out. Into the starting side, as expected, came Chelsea’s all time top scorer Sam Kerr, with Chelsea needing goals Kerr was the inevitable direction to turn to. Also coming into the side that lost to Arsenal in the first leg was 19 year old Dutch defender Veerle Buurman.
Arsenal head coach Renée Slegers explained pre-match that Leah Williamson had trained with the team on Tuesday but Williamson was not fit enough to make the squad. Arsenal made four changes from the side that won the first leg last week. Defensively, Daphne van Domselaar came in for Anneke Borbe while Laia Codina dropped to the bench and was replaced by Steph Catley. Both wingers were changed for the second leg, Caitlin Foord was rewarded for her goal off the bench in the North London derby with a start. Olivia Smith started after coming off at half time on Saturday. Both Lionesses wingers, Beth Mead and Chloe Kelly dropped to the bench.
Embed from Getty Images
The Lineups
CHE: Hampton; Buurman, Buchanan, Bronze, Carpenter; Cuthbert, Walsh, Nüsken; James, Thompson, Kerr
ARS: van Domselaar; McCabe, Catley, Wubben-Moy, Fox; Little, Mariona; Russo, Foord, Smith, Blackstenius
Embed from Getty Images
The Action
Chelsea were the first to step up to the plate in front of a raucous Stamford Bridge crowd. Within seven minutes Sonia Bompastor’s side should have been ahead. A ball played in front of Ellie Carpenter found space in behind Katie McCabe. While her first effort to cross the ball was blocked, her second found the boot of Sjoeke Nüsken driving into the box. Taking aim, Nüsken looked to sweep the ball into the right corner with van Domselaar wrong footed, but her effort ran wide.
Arsenal hit back with a couple of pot shots from distance, Alessia Russo tamely finessed an effort down Hannah Hampton’s throat while McCabe powerfully fired over the bar. Chelsea again came close on the 15 minute mark, Lucy Bronze played a purposeful ball to the feet of Erin Cuthbert on the edge of the box. While the Scot toppled to the ground the ball rolled through to Alyssa Thompson. Thompson touched the ball on the bounce and fired narrowly wide.
The home side threatened again with just under 30 minutes on the clock, another smart touch of awareness of space saw Carpenter in behind again. Her cross only just missed the Kerr trying to get on the end of it. Superb interplay between Thompson and Kerr shortly after created another chance, this time for the American. Thompson did so well to find space in the box but she ballooned her shot over the bar.
Disappointingly for Arsenal Steph Catley had to be withdrawn through injury on the stroke of half time. Taylor Hinds was introduced in her place, with Katie McCabe moving to centre back. Arsenal began the second half with a little more attacking intent than their opponents, pushing Chelsea back with a high press. The Gunners almost found the net with Blackstenius who had a near post header from a corner seemingly and invertedly blocked on the line by Kim Little.
Shortly after the tide turned. When McCabe lost possession in the Chelsea half, Nüsken launched an inch perfect ball over the top to play Kerr in behind. Emily Fox did well to recover alongside Lotte Wubben-Moy to close down the angle for Kerr. Yet Kerr still got a shot away, forcing an excellent diving save from van Domselaar. Chelsea were ramping up the pressure on Arsenal, camped in the North London side’s half for the latter stages of the match. Kerr was just unable to connect with a marvellous cross from Sandy Baltimore with just over 20 minutes remaining.
The back and forth nature of the match persisted as Arsenal seemed to gain the ascendency after introducing Smilla Holmberg and Beth Mead. Russo fired a shot just wide before great work from Mead to find space and clip a lofted ball back to Blackstenius saw the Swede direct her header over. Chelsea came close again shortly after but van Domselaar was once again able to deny Kerr.
Arsenal thought they had the lead on the night after Blackstenius headed home with 10 minutes to play but VAR intervened and disallowed the goal. Chelsea, backed by a home crowd buoyed by the decision in their favour, swarmed forward. Excellent play from Baltimore in the box created some space and her chipped cross found the head of Kerr who nodded just wide. The match had become transitional in nature and both teams had late chances. James released a rocket which was saved impressively by van Domselaar, the rebound seemed destined for the net but the post denied Buurman. With only five minutes remaining Chelsea threw everything at their opponents in search of the goals they needed.
With the match stretched it was Arsenal’s turn to hit the woodwork, when Frida Maanum won the ball from Wieke Kaptein in the midfield. Driving at goal the Norweigan played Beth Mead through in behind, Mead did everything right to set up the effort but her furious effort rattled the post. Chelsea would get the goal they had been craving, Sam Kerr cut the ball back from the bye line and Nüsken slammed the ball home at the near post with minutes remaining in the tie.
Arsenal were looking to waste time and Katie McCabe cynically fouled Thompson as she looked to advance on the break. McCabe clearly pulled Thompson’s hair back but the referee saw it differently, and it was considered legal in the eyes of the woman in the middle. That incurred Sonia Bompastor’s ire, screaming at the referee’s assistant Bompastor was booked twice in quick succession and was sent off. Chelsea launched one final onslaught but it wasn’t enough and Arsenal advanced to the next round.
Embed from Getty Images
Chelsea Player Ratings
GK: Hannah Hampton – 7/10 – Hampton had precious little to deal with, her long passing was improved from the first leg.
RB: Ellie Carpenter – 8.5/10 – Carpenter found space in behind Arsenal within the first ten minutes and created a golden opportunity with it for Chelsea. They missed her at the Emirates last week and that showed tonight.
RCB: Lucy Bronze – 9/10 – Was under pressure early in the second half and stood up to that pressure playing out of position at centre back. Had the most defensive contributions of any player on the pitch.
LCB: Kadeisha Buchanan – 7.5/10 – Did what was required of her on the night, she kept Arsenal at bay and at arms length.
LB: Veerle Buurman – 7.5/10 – Had an excellent battle with Olivia Smith on the left side, had the better of the early exchanges. Was desperately unlucky not to score late on.
CM: Keira Walsh – 6.5/10 – Looked to link up play from the midfield, Arsenal have won the midfield battle over the course of these two legs and Chelsea need to find out why.
CM: Erin Cuthbert – 6.5/10 – Came off with 30 minutes to play as Chelsea looked for a more attacking dimension.
CM: Sjoeke Nüsken – 8/10 – Nüsken should have scored within the first few minutes, when firing wide when missing the target looked the harder thing to do. Played a fantastic long ball to play Kerr clean through on goal in the second half. Took her goal extremely well.
LW: Lauren James – 8.5/10 – Made a brilliant sliding challenge on Alessia Russo in the first half. Always looked to create. Looked the most likely to break the deadlock or create something for Chelsea for long periods.
RW: Alyssa Thompson – 8/10 – Thompson was a threat for Chelsea she caused the Arsenal backline issues in the first half. Needed to be more clinical with the chances she did create.
ST: Sam Kerr – 7/10 – Had only four touches of the ball in the first half, had her chance in the second getting her effort on target even if she failed to find the net. Kept fighting and set up the Chelsea winner on the night.
SUBS
Niamh Charles (60′ Buchanan) – 7/10 – Charles came off the bench to help Chelsea have a more dynamic impact moving forward, she did that.
Sandy Baltimore (60′ Cuthbert) – 7.5/10 – Was a huge part of the comeback against Manchester City last year and almost did the same tonight. Impressed with her impact off the bench.
Wieke Kaptein (84′ Walsh) – 6/10 – Struggled to influence the match after coming on.
Embed from Getty Images
Arsenal Player Ratings
GK: Daphne van Domselaar – 9/10 – Made a fantastic diving save to deny Sam Kerr at a crucial juncture in the match. As Chelsea pushed for a goal in the final minutes van Domselaar produced save after inexplicable save. Arsenal are in the next round because of her.
RB: Emily Fox – 7.5/10 – Fox had a great battle with Thompson but often found herself on the wrong side of the encounter. Was dominant in the air.
RCB: Lotte Wubben-Moy – 8/10 – Wubben-Moy made an excellent full blooded challenge on Carpenter when the Aussie looked to drive through the Arsenal defence. Wubben-Moy has been so solid for Arsenal of late.
LCB: Steph Catley – 8/10 – Catley threw herself in front of everything and made a number of vital clearances from dangerous Lauren James crosses. It was a real shame that she had to be withdrawn, at the time of her substitution no player had made more defensive contributions.
LB: Katie McCabe – 7.5/10 – Made a couple of crucial blocks, Carpenter did find space in behind McCabe a couple of times in the first half. McCabe moved to centre back after Catley’s injury and did well. Created a big chance, all three of her crosses found their target. Extremely lucky not to be sent off in the final moments.
CM: Kim Little – 8/10 – Linked up the midfield with intricate one, twos and one such early manoeuvre earned hearty applause from her head coach.
CM: Mariona Caldentey – 8.5/10 – Made four key passes in the first half alone and seemed to be everywhere in this one.
RW: Olivia Smith – 7.5/10 – A couple of excellent early touches from Smith in advanced areas created space for Arsenal. Within the first twenty minutes Smith had already made four tackles.
LW: Caitlin Foord – 7.5/10 – Was far from her effectual best as she was the last time she visited Stamford Bridge. Never stopped running and her effort was what her manager sought tonight.
SS: Alessia Russo – 8/10 – Had a couple of positive early touches inside her own half. Worked hard up front and fed off scraps for much of the night. Won more duels than any other player on the pitch.
ST: Stina Blackstenius – 7/10 – The Swede cut an isolated figure at times, she spurred a couple of half chances. Scored but had her goal ruled out.
SUBS
Taylor Hinds (45′ Catley) – 8.5/10 – Came off the bench and helped give Arsenal momentum against Chelsea, nicking the ball off Carpenter in an advanced area. Looked really bright, and was smart to waste time for her side late on.
Smilla Holmberg (68′ Fox) – 7/10 – Had an impeccable touch, taking the ball out of the air when it looked destined for the touchline shortly after coming on.
Beth Mead – (68′ Smith) – 8/10 – Almost immediately created a chance for Blackstenius, a wily operator to come off the bench for Arsenal. Almost scored.
Frida Maanum – (84′ Blackstenius) – 7.5/10 – Set up a fantastic chance for Beth Mead who rattled the post with her effort.
Laia Codina – (84′ Caldentey) – 6/10 – Another body in the box that was required for Arsenal.
The Halfway Line Player of the Match: Daphne van Domselaar