Chelsea 3-1 Arsenal: Player ratings as Lauren James leads Blues to statement WSL win
Chelsea 3-1 Arsenal: Player ratings as Lauren James leads Blues to statement WSL win
Chelsea move three points clear at top of WSL with statement win against Arsenal
Gunners now six points behind Blues in standings
Goal from Lauren James and brace from Sjoeke Nusken put hosts three up prior to own goal from Catarina Macario
By Sean Walsh
Mar 15, 2024
Chelsea were victorious on Friday
Chelsea were victorious on Friday / Gaspafotos/MB Media/GettyImages
Chelsea strengthened their WSL title hopes with an important 3-1 win against Arsenal at Stamford Bridge on Friday night.
Over 30,000 people were in attendance to watch Emma Hayes' side move three points clear of Manchester City and six ahead of the visiting Gunners.
Three first-half goals saw the Blues race into an unassailable lead and pile the misery on Arsenal, who got on the scoresheet late on thanks to an own goal.
How the game unfolded
The match was delayed by 30 minutes due to a kit clash, with Arsenal wearing white socks when they were required to bring red. They were forced to purchase Chelsea's away socks from the club megastore and tape over the Nike logo in one of the more bizarre incidents of the season.
Once the action got underway, Chelsea immediately piled on the pressure and broke the deadlock on 15 minutes. Guro Reiten won possession back in midfield and Sjoeke Nusken quickly picked out the run of Lauren James, who weaved away from Steph Catley and fired a shot at the near post, which was terribly palmed up and in by goalkeeper Manuela Zinsberger.
Minutes later, Chelsea doubled their lead. James wriggled her way through the Arsenal backline once again and the ball eventually found Erin Cuthbert, whose trickling effort was turned in by Nusken after stepping in front of Leah Williamson.
Just after the half-hour mark, the hosts had a third. Williamson's poor free-kick from right to left was pounced upon by Johanna Rytting Kaneryd, who dribbled 40 yards to goal before letting fly, and her strike deflected in off of Nusken.
Jonas Eidevall made three changes at the break to try and stem the tide. Katie McCabe found a yard of space inside the final third and let fly soon after the restart, but it flew over Hannah Hampton's goal.
James should have put in Chelsea's fourth when she broke through a sleeping backline and came face-to-face with Zinsberger, but this time the Arsenal stopper came out on top with a great save down low.
Zinsberger made another great save moments later when Reiten's low cross found Rytting Kaneryd, whose top-corner bound strike was punched away.
Arsenal grabbed a consolation goal with five minutes remaining after Chelsea failed to properly clear a corner, with Kim Little's strike finding the corner via a wicked deflection off of Catarina Macario.
That was as good as it got for the Gunners, whose incredibly faint hopes of a late comeback came to an end following five minutes of stoppage time.
Chelsea player ratings (4-2-3-1)
Chelsea FC v Arsenal FC - Barclays Women¥s Super League
A great team performance from Chelsea / Crystal Pix/MB Media/GettyImages
GK: Hannah Hampton - 7/10 - There wasn't a lot for Hampton to do in order to deny Arsenal's attackers, though she was always alert off her line and got Chelsea going with her fine range of passing. Evidently frustrated to have lost her clean sheet late on.
RB: Eve Perisset - 7/10 - Didn't put much of a foot wrong despite Foord's intentions to get at her down the wing.
CB: Jess Carter - 7/10 - Swept up with ease and was barely troubled by Arsenal's laboured forward line.
CB: Kadeisha Buchanan - 7/10 - All-imposing, all-conquering. Arsenal didn't get a sniff and Buchanan's showing was a major reason.
LB: Niamh Charles - 8/10 - The formidable tandem of McCabe and Mead down Arsenal's right could have proved troublesome for Charles. It did not. Withdrawn in the second half with a minor injury.
CM: Melanie Leupolz - 7/10 - The visitors wanted to play the game at a slower pace, and the vigilant Leupolz wasn't going to let them get away with that, continually winning the ball back and stealing possession.
CM: Erin Cuthbert - 8/10 - Another combatant in Chelsea's quest to keep Arsenal from playing their own game. Came up with an unorthodox assist for Nusken.
RM: Johanna Rytting Kaneryd - 8/10 - Whether taking on Catley or Fox, the Sweden winger always found a way to create a yard of space for herself.
AM: Sjoeke Nusken - 9/10 - One goal and two assists at prime time on a Friday night. It's hard to imagine the German dreaming of having a much better performance against such strong opposition.
LM: Guro Reiten - 8/10 - One of the game's trickiest wingers was at it again at Stamford Bridge tonight. Put in a shift going the other way too, winning the ball back leading to the opener.
CF: Lauren James - 9/10 - The player for the big occasion. Arsenal had absolutely no idea how to stop James in her tracks other than to hack her down. Ran rings around England colleagues Williamson and Wubben-Moy. Met with a standing ovation upon being substituted.
Substitutes
SUB: Ashley Lawrence (70' for Charles) - 6/10
SUB: Catarina Macario (83' for James) - 5/10
Subs not used: Zecira Musovic (GK), Sophie Ingle, Maika Hamano, Jelena Cankovic, Fran Kirby, Aggie Beever-Jones
Manager
Emma Hayes - 9/10 - A completely dominant display and one that will make doubters turn to believers when it comes to Chelsea's quadruple hopes.
Arsenal player ratings (4-2-3-1)
Chelsea FC v Arsenal FC - Barclays Women´s Super League
Arsenal never got going / Justin Setterfield/GettyImages
GK: Manuela Zinsberger - 3/10 - Arsenal's night of horror began with an awful error at this level. The Gunners have been heavily linked with a new goalkeeper in recent months and a moment like that only highlights that importance. Made some decent saves in the second half in fairness, though the game was already lost.
RB: Katie McCabe - 5/10 - Arsenal didn't have much luck trying to slow James down, but at least McCabe did so with her physicality. Notably booked for a hard trip on the Chelsea forward.
CB: Leah Williamson - 3/10 - Lost the run of Nusken for the second goal and inexplicably gave it away with a failed cross-field free-kick for the third. Still working her way back to sharpness following that ACL injury.
CB: Lotte Wubben-Moy - 4/10 - Stood off James a little too much and let the maverick forward do whatever she pleaded.
LB: Steph Catley - 4/10 - Turned inside and out by James and co. Pulled up with an injury on the stroke of half-time and did not emerge for the second 45.
CM: Victoria Pelova - 4/10 - Was not afforded the time she wanted in the midfield battle. Another player hauled off at the break.
CM: Lia Walti - 4/10 - Similarly wanted a little more freedom to go about her business, but Chelsea's pressing was on another level and Arsenal couldn't cope.
RM: Beth Mead - 5/10 - Popped up with a few flashes of unsustained brilliance. Couldn't get in the game much once Chelsea took control.
AM: Kim Little - 5/10 - Not involved enough in dangerous areas, and when involved deeper didn't keep hold of the ball with much care. Forced the own goal late on.
LM: Caitlin Foord - 5/10 - Always eager to get on her skates and race away but Arsenal as a team just weren't at the races.
CF: Stina Blackstenius - 5/10 - Made one notable run off the ball into the Chelsea box before being hooked at the interval.
Substitutes
SUB: Alessia Russo (46' for Blackstenius) - 5/10
SUB: Frida Maanum (46' for Pelova) - 5/10
SUB: Emily Fox (46' for Catley) - 4/10
SUB: Cloe Lacasse (57' for Foord) - 5/10
SUB: Kyra Cooney-Cross (72' for Walti) - 5/10
Subs not used: Sabrina D'Angelo (GK), Sarah Bouhaddi (GK), Laia Codina, Katie Reid
Manager
Jonas Eidevall - 4/10 - A nightmare outcome for Arsenal. Didn't look anywhere near Chelsea's level.
Player of the match - Lauren James (Chelsea)
Chelsea FC v Arsenal FC - Barclays Women's Super League
Catch her if you can / Gaspafotos/MB Media/GettyImages
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REPORT: ARSENAL 1-3 CHELSEA (INC. GOALS)
Arsenal WomenArsenal Women Match Reports
Aidan Gibson
March 15, 2024
Zinsberger; McCabe, Williamson, Wubben-Moy, Catley (Fox HT); Pelova (Maanum HT), Wälti (Cooney-Cross 72′); Mead, Little (c), Foord (Lacasse 57′); Blackstenius (Russo HT)
Substitutes: Bouhaddi (gk), D’Angelo (gk), Fox, Codina, Reid, Cooney-Cross, Maanum, Lacasse, Russo
–
Arsenal’s slim title hopes are now completely over after a harrowing 3-1 loss to Chelsea. A team that, because of a sock issue, ended up looking like Manchester United played very much like Manchester United Women, with Arsenal second best all over the pitch.
Jonas Eidevall made three changes to the team that beat Aston Villa in the Conti Cup semi-final. Victoria Pelova, Kim Little, and Caitlin Foord returned to the side, with Frida Maanum, Kyra Cooney-Cross, and Alessia Russo dropping to the bench, meaning that Stina Blackstenius kept her place.
Kickoff was delayed to a kit clash, with Arsenal’s home white socks proving an issue, with Arsenal eventually changing to Chelsea’s alternate socks. After Chelsea tried to ease their PSR woes by making Arsenal buy change socks, the match was ready to kickoff.
First Half
Chelsea started the better of the teams, with James, playing as Chelsea’s striker, having two shots in the opening 90 seconds–the first blocked by Wubben-Moy, the second going well over. Chelsea were starting Sjoeke Nüsken not at centre back, as many predicted before hand, but as the #10, indicating that Chelsea were looking to press Arsenal from the front.
Chelsea were on the front foot, but with Arsenal’s first real attack of the game, Wubben-Moy’s switch found Mead, who laid the ball back to Little whose shot was probably going wide, but Hampton pushed wide for a corner. From the corner, Arsenal eventually worked the ball to Leah Williamson, who slipped Catley down the right, with her shot saved comfortably by Hannah Hampton in goal.
Chelsea took the lead on 15 minutes. Arsenal gave the ball away in midfield, and the ball ran to James. James carried on, and while initially held up by Catley, she got her shot away. Zinsberger parried with her hands, and the ball looped up and over the line.
Chelsea got the second on 21 minutes. James was again central to the move, beating Wälti, and playing the ball wide to Reiten. Reiten dug out a chipped cross, and Catley allowed Kaneryd to get ahead of her and play the ball back to Cuthbert. Cuthbert shot, and Nüsken, lurking behind Williamson but onside, redirected the wayward shot into the net.
Arsenal won a free kick from a good position on 25 minutes, but Mead’s shot was miles over the bar.
Chelsea got the third on 32 minutes. Again, Arsenal gave the ball away. Williamson’s cross field pass from a free kick was intercepted by Kaneryd. With Catley forward for the free kick, Kaneryd ran and ran, and then took a shot, which Nüsken deflected into the goal, again. It was unbelievably unlucky, but also incredibly poor from Arsenal, who were completely disorganized playing the free kick.
McCabe was booked for fouling James on the edge of the area after Pelova was dispossessed in midfield, and from the free kick Reiten hit the top of the netting. At the other end, Arsenal could not get going. With the size of Chelsea’s lead, they could sit off in a mid block, and deny space in behind.
Mercifully, the half time whistle blew without the score getting worse, and while Chelsea’s goals were all rather average and flukes, they’d pulled Arsenal apart in the buildup, with the Gunners unable to handle James or the movement of Kaneryd on the Chelsea right.
Second Half
Eidevall made three subs at half-time. Frida Maanum, Emily Fox, and Alessia Russo replaced Pelova, Catley, and Blackstenius.
Arsenal had to start well, and McCabe, now playing left back had a sighter after 90 seconds.
It was Chelsea, though, who had the first real opportunity of the half. Neat interplay between Nüsken and Kaneryd saw Kaneryd streak through on goal, but Zinsberger was quick off her line to smother the shot and keep the scoreline down.
On 57 minutes, Eidevall made a fourth change, with Lacasse replacing Foord.
Zinsberger made another big stop, with James played beyond the ragged defence, but shooting straight at Zinsberger. Zinsberger then made another save from Kaneryd. Fox was beaten by Reiten, whose cutback found Kaneryd, who was wide open to shoot, but didn’t beat Zinsberger.
Eidevall made his final change on 72 minutes, with Cooney-Cross replacing Lia Wälti. But Arsenal just could not get going in any attacking sense. Even when Arsenal got a decent chance, like when Maanum collected a loose pass in the Chelsea midfield and could slip Russo in, Arsenal were technically deficient, with Maanum’s slack pass getting cut out.
On 86 minutes, Arsenal got a goal back. McCabe’s corner was cleared to Little, and her shot took a deflection off Macario and beat Hampton. 3-1.
Russo then had a chance from the edge of the area, but her shot was low, and Hampton was able to save. There would be time for a Maanum shot from range, and another Zinsberger save before the whistle blew.
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COMMENTS
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15 COMMENTS
oldest
Sam
Sam
9 hours ago
Not good enough. There is so much talent in this team yet Chelsea had so much space at times and we looked so toothless. Jonas needs to go. This team is too good to finish third with a nothing title challenge
Jonas out
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Reply
Henkamp
Henkamp
9 hours ago
Oh well, here’s hoping City women win the league, now that we cannot do it ourselves. Tired of seeing Chelsea trudge away with it every year!
3
-4
Reply
Sam
Sam
Reply to Henkamp
9 hours ago
Honestly Abu Dhabi sponsered City are hardly better. Mainly because of the association with the men’s team as well. Honestly if we don’t win the league I don’t care who does. Hopefully Chelsea will be weaker next year when Hayes goes
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Henkamp
Henkamp
Reply to Sam
8 hours ago
Understand this. Guess I do not really detest City women’s teams as much as I do their men’s team and Chelsea.
0
0
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Bertieme
Bertieme
9 hours ago
second best all over the pitch is right. It was a dreadful and weak performance from the first minute to the last.
17
0
Reply
Peter Story Teller
Peter Story Teller
9 hours ago
I have tried to think of some positives but truly there weren’t any. If I had been at home I would have missed this game because it was on Sky in the UK but at the moment I am in Norway and it was shown live on the TV in my hotel room so I had to endure the whole match!
Onwards to the 31st but our players better shake themselves up for that game!
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0
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The Friends of Mr Cairo
The Friends of Mr Cairo
9 hours ago
Very very disappointing. I think our season was derailed from the start when we were knocked out of the CL in the qualifying round. That really affected the players who had gone so close to reaching the final last season. So we were left with the mundanity of the 3 local competitions. Losing at home to Liverpool on the opening day of the season was the first alarm bell, particularly when no team has lost more than 2 games in a season when winning the Title. Yes we had injuries to contend with, but so did City and Chelsea. We… Read more »
17
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JonasoutofArsenal
JonasoutofArsenal
9 hours ago
We have to win the Conti Cup, there is no other option. That’s our entire season resting on that game. Jonas has got to be out the door, the players we have and the performances he produces in a must win game? He has to be sacked. The only positive is we have secured top 3 as no way Liverpool or United catch us. Small wins but the CL next season is all some of these players have to look forward to and probably the dangling carrot that got them to sign for us in the first place. And get… Read more »
6
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Peter Story Teller
Peter Story Teller
Reply to JonasoutofArsenal
8 hours ago
As for your last point it is sad but true. Manu has improved considerably but she is far too flat-footed and is often rooted to the spot. If she dives and cannot reach the ball at least she made an effort but how many times do we have to watch her stand still as the ball flies past into the net. If she was ever going to get that sorted out she would have done it by now. I just do not see why Jonas trusts her so much. I would say if Bouhaddi was playing tonight 2 of those… Read more »
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chig
chig
Reply to Peter Story Teller
5 hours ago
In the second half she did save James’s effort when she was 1v1 as well as 2 or 3 other efforts from all the times Chelsea got through. But I do think she is more of a backup keeper if major trophies are the goal
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OmoOba
OmoOba
5 hours ago
Our team was so disjointed that the game was so painful to watch. When I saw the lineup, I was quite surprised that Emily didn’t start at right back. A couple of minutes into the game, I started to wonder why Leah started as she seemed to struggle for pace! I expected some changes at halftime with Leah being subbed but what do I know! I wondered why JE subbed Caitlin instead of Beth! Chelsea was quite physical and sharp; we were playing as if we were entitled to win without putting up ANY effort. So sad!!
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chig
chig
5 hours ago
Comfortable win for Chelsea who had to play James as a striker because they had 3 strikers injured. No Millie Bright as well. Comfortable victory for them.
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Barry Byrne
Barry Byrne
3 hours ago
Poor night. Too easy to blame Jonas on this, he ain’t convincing but the effort from the players was dreadful. When you get Ian Wright posting his annoyance at lack of fight you know it was a bad one. On a positive note the occasion was great for WSL, fans especially Gooners in the Shed were brilliant, and refused to let the performance beat them, which was great to see. We move on but this summer we need changes both on and off the pitch.
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Me2
Me2
1 hour ago
It seems to be the same story every season for Arsenal Ladies.
With this team and the quality throughout they should be better than just challengers.
Perhaps it is time for a new direction…
1
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O.G
O.G
1 hour ago
Disappointed 😞
0
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