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Key occasions
71 min: Just below 20 minutes to go now and this recreation might nonetheless go both means…
69 min: Arsenal appear to be sticking to their 4-3-3 formation with Russo now on the appropriate…
66 min: Substitution for Arsenal as Mead makes means for Stina Blackstenius, who, traditionally, loves a purpose towards Chelsea. The guests might now determine to modify up formations with two strikers on the pitch.
64 min: Chelsea have a nook and Macario delivers it to the entrance submit, however the ball is well cleared by Fox.
63 min: Blackstenius is on the point of come on for Arsenal…
60 min: Nüsken receives the ball from Macario within the center and takes a number of steps ahead earlier than capturing, however her effort fails to hassle Van Domselaar.
57 min: Substitution for Chelsea as Lauren James returns to the pitch after a spell on the sidelines with a calf harm. She replaces Baltimore on the left wing.
56 min: Now Baltimore makes an attempt a shot from distance after receiving the ball from Nüsken in midfield. The winger goes for purpose from round 25 yards out however her effort flies over the crossbar.
54 min: Arsenal battle to clear their strains as Chelsea pile on the strain. Catley is ultimately caught out by Cuthbert, however Van Domselaar comes off her line to say possession.
52 min: Brilliant makes an attempt an audacious shot from at the very least 30 yards out, however her effort flies nicely broad of the goal.
49 min: The nook is crossed into the field and reaches Nüsken on the entrance submit. The midfielder makes an attempt to flick it in direction of purpose together with her heel however as an alternative the ball runs behind for a purpose kick.
48 min: Baltimore receives the ball on the left and appears to drive into the field, however Fox is there to make the deal with and see it out for a nook.
46 min: Chelsea made one change on the break, with Maika Hamano changing Ramírez. Macario will now play as a striker.
Kick-off: Chelsea 0-0 Arsenal
We’re again below means at Stamford Bridge!
Whereas we await the second half to start out, remember to subscribe to Transferring the Goalposts, our weekly ladies’s soccer publication.
It was all Chelsea within the early phases of the primary half, however Arsenal managed to get themselves again into the match. Beth Mead, Alessia Russo and Emily Fox all got here shut for the guests, however arguably the most effective probability fell to Catarina Macario, who compelled a fantastic save from Van Domselaar within the thirty sixth minute. An enormous half of soccer awaits!
Half-time: Chelsea 0-0 Arsenal
It’s nonetheless all sq. at Stamford Bridge!
45+1 min: 4 minutes have been added on…
44 min: Arsenal are compelled right into a change as Foord walks off with an harm simply earlier than half-time. She is changed by Frida Maanum, with Mariona shifting out to the wing.
42 min: Big probability for Arsenal! The ball is drilled into Russo on the sting of the field, who kills the velocity with an ideal contact throughout to Little. The midfielder then shifts possession again out to Mead on the left, who cuts inside earlier than trying to shoot for the top-right nook, however her effort flies broad!
39 min: Arsenal have improved massively within the final 20 minutes or so, forcing Chelsea onto the again foot at occasions. However they need to cautious – Chelsea might catch them out in a matter of seconds…
36 min: Massive probability for Chelsea now as Nüsken crosses the ball into the field. It will definitely falls to the toes of Macario, who makes an attempt to shoot on the half-turn and forces a fantastic save from Van Domselaar.
33 min: Macario sends a Chelsea nook into the field. Nüsken and Little each go to floor following a collision and the referee awards Arsenal a free kick. Each gamers are effective to proceed.
30 min: One other probability for the guests. Three fast passes ultimately result in Fox within the field, who goes for purpose and forces a save from Hampton.
28 min: McCabe wanders out of possession and finds herself quickly within the No9! She receives a protracted move by way of earlier than trying the shot, however Charles is there to ship it behind for a nook.
26 min: One other large probability for Arsenal! McCabe sends a cross to Mead on the again submit, who brings the ball down earlier than going for the shot. Her effort deflects off the leg of Charles earlier than going behind for a nook.
23 min: A poor again move from Cuthbert in midfield items possession to Russo on the sting of the field! The striker cuts inside earlier than going for purpose, however her effort is dragged broad. An enormous probability missed there for Arsenal.
20 min: Arsenal followers can breathe a sigh of aid as Mead seems to be okay following that problem. She will be able to play on for now.
19 min: Mead goes to floor and seems to be in some discomfort following a collision with Kaneryd. She is holding her proper knee.
18 min: Chelsea have a nook and the ball is swung into the field, however the referee blows her whistle when Little goes to floor following a collision with Brilliant. Arsenal have a free kick.
15 min: Simply when Arsenal are struggling to interrupt by way of, Cooney-Cross splits the Chelsea defence with a superb move to Mead within the field. It bounces awkwardly as Bronze makes an attempt to make the deal with, however play shortly stops when the offside flag is waved.
13 min: Cuthbert takes a heavy contact, permitting Russo to win the ball again for Arsenal. Nevertheless, Chelsea are again in numbers and aren’t letting the guests although.
10 min: Charles is given far an excessive amount of area on the left, permitting her to float in direction of the Arsenal penalty space. She sends a move to Baltimore, who simply shrugs off Fox earlier than crossing the ball into the six-yard field. Fortunately for Arsenal, McCabe is there to get a contact on it, steering the cross away from Kaneryd on the again submit.
8 min: Arsenal have to get a grip on this recreation. They’ve been caught out by Chelsea far too many occasions up to now. The hosts aren’t giving their opponents any respiratory area.
6 min: Arsenal are very fortunate to nonetheless be degree right here. A direct move is shipped throughout the pitch to Kaneryd, who crosses the ball in to Baltimore from the appropriate. Arsenal can clear, however solely so far as Cuthbert, who goes for the shot from the sting of the field and her effort skims narrowly previous the submit.
3 min: Arsenal face an early scare as a miscommunication between Van Domselaar and Williamson sees the ball spill out in direction of the toes of Macario within the six-yard field. Fortunately for the guests they will ultimately scramble it away.
1 min: Little intercepts a move in midfield earlier than setting the ball to Mead, who’s compelled to go backwards. Chelsea shortly pin Arsenal again into their very own half earlier than profitable possession and giving it to Kaneryd. The winger goes for purpose, however her effort is comfortably saved by Van Domselaar.
Kick-off
We’re below means at Stamford Bridge!
Proper, that’s sufficient switch information for now. Kick-off is in slightly below 5 minutes!
Chelsea verify Naomi Girma switch
And similar to that, Naomi Girma has simply walked onto the Stamford Bridge pitch in a Chelsea shirt!
In case you weren’t already conscious, Chelsea agreed a $1.1million cope with San Diego Wave for USA defender Naomi Girma this week. Right here’s what our very personal Tom Garry needed to say in regards to the historic switch…
Sonia Bompastor has simply all-but confirmed the signing of Naomi Girma. The Chelsea supervisor informed BBC Sport: “Sure, we’ll in all probability need to announce one thing about Naomi quickly.”
Arsenal midfielders Lia Wälti and Kim Little spoke to Suzanne Wrack this week about this afternoon’s large London derby, Jonas Eidevall’s exit and the way issues have modified below new head coach Renée Slegers.
Discussing Chelsea throughout her pre-match press convention on Friday, Arsenal head coach Renée Slegers stated: “I’m very impressed with what they’ve been doing however what we need to do is take this recreation and strategy it as every other recreation. The issues we’ve been doing rather well is being composed and calm about any opposition we play. Being humble, but additionally having an enormous perception in what we’re doing. We attempt to strategy this recreation in the very same means.”
Arsenal followers, you’ll be happy to know that the guests are carrying RED socks this afternoon. No last-minute sprint to the megastore immediately!
Discussing Arsenal throughout her pre-match press convention earlier this week, Chelsea head coach Sonia Bompastor stated: “Our mentality is to concentrate on the sport and each recreation is simply price three factors, it’s not more than that on Sunday. So we concentrate on ourselves and our mentality is to ensure in each recreation we put ourselves in the appropriate mentality to ensure we win the sport. We don’t concentrate on the desk, we take it recreation by recreation, and we’re extra centered on how we are able to carry out the most effective on recreation day.”
Guro Reiten claims Chelsea are “not proud of the place they’re proper now” regardless of remaining undefeated throughout all competitions. The winger mentioned immediately’s derby with Suzanne Wrack earlier this week…
In case you someway missed it, the final time these two groups met at Stamford Bridge there was one main speaking level – socks.
Sure, Arsenal took white socks throughout London for the fixture, leading to a equipment conflict. The match was subsequently delayed by half-hour and the Gunners needed to put on Chelsea’s darkish blue and black away socks bought from the stadium megastore…
Hopefully we gained’t see the identical downside once more this afternoon!
Group information
Chelsea beginning line-up: Hannah Hampton; Lucy Bronze, Millie Brilliant (C), Nathalie Björn, Niamh Charles; Sjoeke Nüsken, Erin Cuthbert, Johanna Rytting Kaneryd; Catarina Macario, Sandy Baltimore, Mayra Ramírez. Substitutes: Zećira Mušović, Ashley Lawrence, Maelys Mpomé, Wieke Kaptein, Oriane Jean-François, Maika Hamano, Guro Reiten, Lauren James, Aggie Beever-Jones.
Arsenal beginning line-up: Daphne van Domselaar; Emily Fox, Leah Williamson, Steph Catley, Katie McCabe; Kyra Cooney-Cross, Kim Little (C), Mariona Caldentey; Caitlin Foord, Beth Mead, Alessia Russo. Substitutes: Manuela Zinsberger, Lotte Wubben-Moy, Laura Wienroither, Katie Reid, Lia Wälti, Frida Maanum, Rosa Kafaji, Stina Blackstenius.
Preamble
Hiya, good afternoon and welcome to protection of immediately’s WSL conflict between Chelsea and Arsenal. It’s first vs third at Stamford Bridge this afternoon in one of the crucial highly-anticipated fixtures of each WSL season. Chelsea are nonetheless but to lose a match this time period and have solely dropped factors on one event. In the meantime, Arsenal have loved an excellent 13-game unbeaten run following their 2-1 defeat to Sonia Bompastor’s aspect in October – the match that additionally marked the tip of the Jonas Eidevall period.
The Gunners want a win immediately to shut the hole to their London rivals – something much less and Chelsea will take an enormous step in direction of the league title.
Let’s simply hope that Arsenal’s backroom employees have introduced the right socks this time!
Kick-off is at 12:30pm GMT – be part of me!
