Arsenal missed the chance to take control of the WSL title race last week, as Sam Kerr’s late header meant that the points were shared at Emirates Stadium. Kim Little’s second half penalty looked to have been enough to secure all 3 points, but instead, Arsenal were left rueing what might have been.
It’s the fixture that instils dread and fear in Arsenal fans. As the WSL has evolved, Chelsea have become the immovable obstacle Arsenal have yet to find a way to circumnavigate. Since 2012, they have only managed to find 3 wins home and away, results that proved to be outliers to the common trend, false dawns towards a supposed shift in the general narrative. Arsenal’s record of 1 WSL title in the last 10 seasons is down to (in part) their inability to find a win in these crunch fixtures. The origins of the decline of Joe Montemurro, Jonas Eidevall’s predecessor and WSL Title winner, can be pinpointed to the 4-1 disaster at Meadow Park in 2020, a result which remains a source of pain in the fanbase (and Chelsea’s last win in the WSL at the home of Arsenal).
Under Jonas however, the established norm of Chelsea’s triumph appears to be shifting. Last season, Arsenal were unbeaten against Chelsea for the first time since 2013, thanks to a thrilling 3-2 win at Emirates Stadium, coupled with an intense 0-0 draw at Kingsmeadow. Although they still fell short in the title hunt to Chelsea by just 1 point, it is clear under his stewardship that they have a coach who is more tactically astute then previous managers, whilst he is being supported by the club to a greater extent than in previous seasons. Following the COVID lockdown, the failed coup of the Men’s European Super League, and the fan protests that followed, Arsenal have upped their ante of supporting their Men’s and Women’s Teams. The latter was much needed; Arsenal had taken their eye off the ball regarding their Women’s Team (no pun intended), despite their WSL triumph in 2019. Now their focus is on getting Arsenal not just back to the top of the WSL, but also be the forefront for change and evolution of Women’s Football.
Earlier that week, Arsenal showcased their planned new wraps that would be draped around the exterior of Emirates Stadium. Replacing the tired, worn images of the backs of Arsenal Men’s players were artworks resplendent with Arsenal legends, both Men and Women. Alongside the Men’s Invincibles of 2003-04 were the Women’s Invincible European Champions of 2006-07. A painting of the old Marble Stand of Highbury bore images of Arsenal Men and Women past, honouring the twin legacies of two of England’s most successful teams.
And as change continues off the pitch (Arsenal Women will be moving into their new training centre very soon), so too is change happening on the pitch. Or rather, a change of pitch. Arsenal CEO Vinai Venkatesham has already outlined his desire for Emirates Stadium to become Arsenal Women’s main home in the long term and move the side away permanently from Meadow Park. It’s an ambitious plan, one that, whilst is correct and needed, will not be completed overnight. Instead, this season, Arsenal have played 6 fixtures at Emirates Stadium (3 WSL, 3 UWCL), as they try to get their side slowly acclimatised to the bigger stadium. Whilst the UWCL games need improving attendance-wise, the WSL fixtures have been a roaring success. 40,000+ tickets were sold for all 3 matches, leading to unprecedented attendance levels in the WSL, with Chelsea’s fixture being the last of the 3.
With a brass band drumming up support on the march in, a thrilling montage of Arsenal Women goals of old being showcased on the big screen pre kick-off, and pyrotechnics as the players walked out onto the pitch, you could be forgiven for thinking this was in fact a Men’s fixture. This was what Women’s Football should be, this is what should be the norm, not the exception for a select few fixtures every season. Arsenal have got this right, they have got an audience that is coming back for more, and crucially, willing to pay over the counter to experience it again. Everything was set up for Arsenal to put on a real show of strength against the reigning champions in front of 40,000 Arsenal fans.
What instead followed was something akin to a tactical chess match. Chances were limited in a tense first half, though Arsenal arguably had the better of them. Through the driving runs of Leonhardsen Maanum and the strength of Foord’s run down the left channel, Arsenal were able to open up Chelsea on occasion, though lacked any real bite, often shooting straight at Musovic. Chelsea, on the other hand, struggled to play out of Arsenal’s high press, forced to play the ball between Musovic, Bright and Buchanan (much to the consternation of the Chelsea away fans). The pace of Lauren James on the counter seemed to be Chelsea’s main source of threat, as well as attempting long balls out to Kerr, which were competently swept up by Zinsberger. Arsenal were controlling the game without impacting the scoreline, and ultimately gave nothing for the expectant crowd to cheer.
In the second half, Arsenal upped the tempo, sensing that this was a Chelsea side there for the taking. Lina Hurtig has had little impact since her summer arrival thanks in part to coming off injured at Leicester, but she had a glorious chance to rectify that, winning a free header that bounced straight into Musovic’s grasp. The momentum of the game was now shifting Arsenal’s way. A goal felt imminent, but when it did, it was in controversial circumstances. Foord cleverly rolled Charles on the left flank and made a burst towards the box. Charles, desperately chased back to rectify her mistake, lent into Foord’s back, who hit the deck. Referee Emily Heaslip had no hesitation on pointing to the spot, but in truth the penalty looked soft at best. Not that it mattered to Captain Kim Little, who dispatched the spot kick with ease, giving Arsenal the lead.
ADVANTAGE ARSENAL!! 🔴
Kim Little gives her side the LEAD from the penalty spot! ⚡ pic.twitter.com/C9u4eyC8nS
— Sky Sports WSL (@SkySportsWSL) January 15, 2023
With 30 minutes to go, Arsenal tried to kill the game with a crucial second, yet task seemed beyond them. Chances and scrambles came and went, yet nothing would go in. Steph Catley had their best chance, a looping cross that almost snaked into the top corner, only for Musovic to tip it onto the crossbar. As the game entered the final 10, Emma Hayes went to her bench and brought on the attacking Cankovic for the more defensive Ingle. The plan worked, Chelsea were able to impose themselves more on the tiring Arsenal, and with 90 seconds left, they cashed in. Arsenal’s defence had been resolute all game, denying everything Chelsea had thrown at them, but at the crucial moment they erred. Cankovic’s cross from deep was a peach, Kerr lost Williamson in the box and leapt to smash her header past the helpless Zinsberger, robbing Arsenal of a second home win on the spin against Chelsea, and keeping the WSL title race firmly in the balance.
SAM KERR WITH A HUGE GOAL!! 💥
The delivery 🤝 The header pic.twitter.com/uhglYClOdw
— Sky Sports WSL (@SkySportsWSL) January 15, 2023
It was a fine performance by Arsenal. Too often in these contests they have found themselves outthought and outfought. But on this occasion, they more than matched Chelsea, containing and restraining the normally rampant attacking and dominating behemoth that ordinarily devours any team that dared to cross paths with it. But they couldn’t capitalise upon their dominance. Strangely, the crux of the issue was highlighted before a ball was even kicked, in the pre-match press conference. When asked about his signings this window, Jonas made clear his desire to sign a new striker, stating he would be ‘disappointed’ if Arsenal failed to do so. And throughout the match, it was painfully clear why. Arsenal have been cursed with losing both of their best finishers, Miedema and Mead, to long term ACL injuries, robbing the side of a potent goal threat. In their places were Blackstenius, who is great at holding up play and passing it on to others, but is not clinical enough in front of goal, Hurtig, who is still acclimatising to playing at Arsenal, and Foord, who ran well, but can blow hot and cold in front of goal. Arsenal had 7 shots on target compared to Chelsea’s 2, but their only goal came from a spot kick, and their best chance to kill the game was a fluke of a cross by Catley. Kerr, by comparison, had Chelsea’s sole efforts on goal, both in the final 10 minutes, and succeeded at the second attempt. Had either Viv or Beth, the goalscorers in this fixture last season, been available on the day, Arsenal would have run away with it. Their absences were keenly felt, highlighting the need for Arsenal to learn how to play without them in these crunch ties if they are to have a successful season.
Despite the failings in front of goal, Arsenal still had the lead going into the dying embers of the match. This should have been a report celebrating Arsenal’s resilience in a hard fought win, but instead it exposed the lack of depth available at present. Emma Hayes was able to draw upon 4 subs to freshen up the attack and change formation in search of the equaliser. By comparison, Jonas only made one substitute, a delayed introduction of Katie McCabe for Hurtig with 10 minutes to play, whose sole contribution was to pick up a booking for a wild lunge on the halfway line. Arsenal’s front line was shattered from the exertions of the press throughout the contest, but Jonas opted not to bring on new signings Kuhl and Pelova, or the recently recalled Gio, to refresh the attack. Nor did he opt to bring on Beattie or Wubben-Moy to increase their defensive numbers as Chelsea pushed on in the closing minutes. The former was understandable, as given their limited time at the club, they may not have been best prepared to step in when a tie was so finely in the balance. Less forgivable was the latter.
This is now twice Arsenal have led at Emirates Stadium heading into the final 10 minutes this season, only to chuck away the result. In both instances, the decision not to introduce an extra defender to shore up the back had cost him. On Sunday, Jonas opted to do nothing, and in doing so, he gifted Chelsea a route back into a contest they had been in control of up until that point, a gift they took with both hands.
Written by Adam Salter
