Meadow Park, Borehamwood
Reigning WSL champions, laid down a significant marker in the fledgling 2016 season by comfortably winning at the home of their London rivals and upcoming FA Cup final opponents. For Arsenal Ladies who went into the season with such high hopes following several significant signings, defeats to Manchester City and Chelsea have dealt them blows which may prove terminal in a 16-game season.
Chelsea began where they had left off on Sunday – on the front foot, pressing high and repeatedly forcing their opponents into mistakes. With Davison and Carney hugging the touchlines and Chapman and Spence a menace in the centre of midfield, Arsenal were never given a moment’s respite to build attacks. Aside from the odd burst from Nobbs they were penned back for much of the half. It was no surprise when they scored, Kirby springing the offside trap, beating Van Veenendaal to the ball and scrambling it over the line.
Arsenal coach Losa brought on Kelly Smith and Oshoala at half-time and Smith added more impetus to her team at first tangling with Chapman and Ji and then with her timeless dribbling. Nobbs had the ball in the net from long-range but the referee had already given her a free kick. Williams stung the palms of Lindahl from the set-piece but it was as close as Arsenal came to levelling the scores.
Drew Spence in Chelsea’s mdfield was a colossus, creating several opportunities which were spurned before her shot from a corner was blocked and turned home by Kirby again to settle the game.
Fara Williams thought Arsenal had contributed to their own downfall “mistakes happen you accept that, the areas we’re making mistakes in is costing us”. Jordan Nobbs similarly felt the team had left themselves down “we looked a bit. . like we were a little bit scared to be honest, we were giving the ball away too easy”.
Meanwhile Chelsea manager, Emma Hayes continues to get the best from her squad “we looked the fresher of the two teams so credit to my players, a real determination I think to demonstrate why we are champions”
