Arsenal 1-1 Chelsea: Blues shock Gunners with late Kerr goal
Arsenal and Chelsea’s top of the table clash in the Women’s Super League ended 1-1 thanks to a late Sam Kerr header. Kim Little gave Arsenal the lead through a penalty in the 57th minute before Kerr equalised just one minute before the end. The result means the Blues stay on top of the table with Arsenal three points behind them – having played one game less.
The Gunners started off strong with a high press that seemed to surprise the Blues. Even though this led to multiple chances, the home side lacked precision in their subsequent attempts on goal. A penalty from Kim Little brought them a deserved lead in the second half but Kerr shocked Arsenal with a late header after a Jelena Čanković cross.
Both Arsenal and Chelsea made five changes to the starting XI after their last WSL games against Aston Villa and Reading respectively.
Jonas Eidevall brought back Leah Williamson and Laura Wienroither in defence. Up front, long-term absentees Beth Mead and Vivianne Miedema had to be replaced.
Their new signings Victoria Pelova, Kathrine Kühl and Sabrina D’Angelas as well as Gio Queiroz, who had been recalled from her loan spell with Everton, all took a place on the bench.
All Arsenal players were wearing black armbands honoring the late June Mead, mother of Beth Mead, who had passed away with ovarian cancer earlier last week.
Chelsea boss Emma Hayes surprised fans with her choice of goalkeeper – Zećira Mušović was preferred over Ann-Katrin Berger who had started most of Chelsea’s games this season. The Swedish keeper had picked up some game time in the Blues’ last two Champions League games.
Additionally, Fran Kirby started the game on the bench.
Apart from Pernille Harder, the Chelsea manager had a lot of options at her disposal with an otherwise fully fit squad.
The Gunners got the better start to the game with two efforts on Chelsea’s goal within the first five minutes.
But it was Chelsea’s Lauren James who drew the loudest noise from the Emirates crowd when she got past two Arsenal defenders on the right hand side and managed a shot with her strong left foot that went just wide of Manuela Zinsberger left-hand post.
The Blues lost a lot of duels in midfield as a result of Arsenal’s continued pressing. This lead to several dangerous counterattacks for the home side. Lina Hurtig and Stina Blackstenius both had promising chances in the penalty area but did not manage to get the ball past Mušović.
Arsenal’s stirring up of the guest’s defence lead to Chelsea mostly relying on long balls in an attempt to get into the Blues’ half but did not have much success. Chelsea were clearly surprised by the determination from the Gunners and lacked a physical presence in midfield as well as creativity in their build-up.
Only James rarely managed to get through the Gunners’ defence with her direct dribbling but did not find a a player of her own on the other end of her balls into the box.
Arsenal kept getting closer to a goal. Lina Hurtig’s shot hit the side netting after making space on the right-hand side of Chelsea’s penalty area.
It was only towards the end of the half that Chelsea gained a bit more momentum – finally they were able to gain some territory which led to several corners offering an opportunity to test Arsenal’s defensive line. However, this only led to a Kerr header placed just wide of goal.
Arsenal had the better first half with multiple shots on target just lacking the required accuracy. Chelsea were continuously surprised by the Gunner’s relentless high-press and determination only picking up on their usual form in shortly before the half-time whistle.
After the break Arsenal picked up from where they left off in the first half keeping the high pressing as well as their physicality up front.
A double chance for Lina Hurtig almost brought them the lead. The Swedish player first hit the crossbar from a cross and only seconds later had a header on target that Mušović caught at the second attempt.
A penalty finally brought the opening goal that the Gunners so richly deserved. Niamh Charles brought down Caitlin Foord on the edge of the penalty area. Captain Kim Little made it 1-0 for the home side on 57 minutes.
Emma Hayes then reacted by bringing Eve Perisset and Fran Kirby onto the pitch to bring back life into her team.
Chelsea had to bring more to the table from now on. A shot from Erin Cuthbert was deflected by an Arsenal defender resulting in another corner for the Blues. However, Emma Hayes’s side could not convert this opportunity into a decent opening.
The game swung back and forth as both sides created chances from hereon.
With Arsenal falling back into their own half a bit, the Blues picked up more goal-scoring opportunities through Kirby and Sophie Ingle whose shot from just a few feet away from the penalty area went over the crossbar.
At the other end, Mušović impressed with one more major save – she got one hand on the ball to tip it against the woodwork after an attempt on goal from Steph Catley.
The shock for Arsenal came through a header from Sam Kerr just one minute before the end of the game to make it 1-1.
Despite dominating most parts of the game, the Gunners had to give in towards the end of the match. The fight for the top of the league remains as exciting as ever as Arsenal have the opportunity to go level with Chelsea having played one game less.
For their next WSL matchup Arsenal face 11th-placed Brighton & Hove Albion away from home.
Meanwhile, Chelsea play Liverpool, currently 9th in the table, on Sunday at Kingmeadow.
