Hello everyone, Lee Jackson here on a cold afternoon in London at Wembley Stadium ahead of a thrilling prospect between The Gunners Arsenal W.F.C. who sit top of the WSL (Women’s Super League) going head to head with London rivals Chelsea F.C. Women who are currently one point behind them.
The Gunners enter this game in good form hoping that they can repeat the 2015/16 final when they beat The Blues 1-0. They’ll be wanting to claim their 15th FA Cup and prevent Chelsea from taking any momentum from this final into the league. Vivienne Miedema will be looking to get back amongst the goals after the Balon d’Or ceremony.
Facing them, a bang inform Chelsea side who are yet to concede in their last five matches scoring 18 in the process. Staggering statistics will only bode well for them entering a final of this calibre. Sam Kerr will be chomping at the bit to make her mark on this final and cement her place in FA Cup folklore. The lineups for both teams are…
The players take the respective knee for racism as the game gets underway.
KICK OFF! ’01 – It’s Arsenal and Miedema who get the final underway this afternoon.
⚽ GOAL! (ARSENAL 0 – 1 CHELSEA) ’03 – The deadlock has been broken out of the blue by Fran Kirby. Dawdling on the ball from Jennifer Beattie has cost Arsenal here as Kirby quick on her heels pounces on the error and produces a lovely finish into the left corner to stun the 14 time Women’s FA Cup champions.
Embed from Getty ImagesCHANCE! ’07 – Nice passing from Chelsea in these opening exchanges as Kirby plays the ball into Kerr who returns it with a deft touch into her path, exquisite control from Kirby as she plays an intricate through ball into Kerr but an off-balance shot is all she can muster up as it goes straight into the goalkeeper’s arms.
🟨 YELLOW CARD ’08 – Unsurprisingly it’s an Arsenal player who enters the book first as Beth Mead doesn’t quite get to the ball in time clashing with Erin Cuthbert. Arsenal are visibly shaken here in the open minutes of this game and need to calm themselves down.
’12 – A majestic pivot from Frida Maanum as she leaves the Chelsea midfield in the dust. Miedema receives the ball with back to goal and on the turn lets fly with a shot but in the end, it is blocked by Magdalena Eriksson.
Embed from Getty ImagesCHANCE! ’19 – A nicely weighted ball down the right flank as Kerr takes chase and drives to the byline. A questionable challenge as she squares it to Kirby whose effort is tipped onto the post with a fantastic save to deny a brace for the Chelsea ace.
CHANCE! ’25 – All one-way traffic here and at the centre of it once more is no other than Kirby. Pulling the strings in that deep-lying playmaker role as she plays a driven pass out wide left to Guro Reiten who delivers a delicious ball on a plate to Kirby who fires a curled effort towards the right corner. A cracking save to deny Chelsea extending their lead from Manuela Zinsberger.
’28 – Like clockwork with Kirby picking the ball up from deep and driving towards the opposition box. A pass out wide to Jessie Fleming who is in acres of space with a chance to shoot but ends up scuffing the chance opting to pass but not getting a solid connection.
CHANCE! 36 – An aerial ball beats the Arsenal defence yet again with Lotte Wubben-Moy waiting for the bounce but being brushed aside by Kerr who bears down on goal opting for a chipped effort only to see it hit the crossbar. A massive chance in which should’ve been punished.
🟨 YELLOW CARD ’46 – Cuthbert meets a yellow card after a feisty challenge mistiming the tackle.
🕑 HALF TIME – (ARSENAL 0 – 1 CHELSEA)
CHANCE! ’54 – A sumptuous switch of play from Jessica Carter who finds Cuthbert on the right flank. An angelic touch from Cuthbert brings the ball down and sends Stephanie Catley to the shops with a body feint and crosses into Kerr who heads straight at Zinsberger.
⚽ GOAL! (ARSENAL 0 – 2 CHELSEA) ’57 – Arsenal haven’t been at the races today as they’ve gone two down. Mead with the miscontrol on the edge of the Chelsea area being dispossessed in the process. Sophie Ingle nicks it and finds Kirby who on the half-turn provides a through ball into the space for Kerr to chase. Shaky defending once again from Wubben-Moy as she is beaten for pace with Kerr cutting inside onto her right foot and slotting home at the near post with Zinsberger not getting enough on the save.
Embed from Getty ImagesSUBSTITUTION ’61 – An instant response from Arsenal here as Lia Wรคlti makes way for the more offensive Mana Iwabuchi.
’64 – A weak clearance from Carter is pounced upon by Iwabuchi immediately getting involved with great control laying a pass to Miedema who slots it out wide to Noelle Maritz lofting a ball into the danger area and almost costing a goal. Millie Bright and Cuthbert getting in each other’s way but just getting the ball clear to safety.
Embed from Getty Images🟨 YELLOW CARD ’66 – A cynical foul from Katie McCabe as she brings down Kirby preventing the counterattack for Chelsea.
SUBSTITUTION ’71 – Caitlin Foord gets her chance to make a mark on this final as she replaces a struggling Beattie.
CHANCE! ’72 – The Arsenal post is rattled once more with Kirby orchestrating a fantastic opportunity on goal firing from 25 yards clipping the post.
SUBSTITUTION ’77 – A certain contender for ‘Woman of the Match’ as Kirby leaves the pitch to a standing ovation. An incredible 77 minutes from her as she makes way for Pernille Harder.
⚽ GOAL! (ARSENAL 0 – 3 CHELSEA) ’79 – Watch it, drink it in! Outrageous from the Aussie who finds herself in behind the Arsenal defence unchallenged and from 25 yards dinks the ball over the goalkeeper to make it three and possibly giving Chelsea the title.
Embed from Getty ImagesSUBSTITUTION ’80 – Nikita Parris is brought on for Maanum as Arsenal look to grab one back and make something of these final minutes.
🟨 YELLOW CARD ’81 – Eight seconds after coming on Parris meets the referee’s book with a needless challenge on Reiten.
SUBSTITUTION ’86 – It’s a triple change for The Blues as Kerr, Reiten and Melanie Leupolz come off for Bethany England, Ji So-Yun and Drew Spence.
SUBSTITUTION ’87 – A torrid time this afternoon for Wubben-Moy as she is replaced by Simone Boye Sorensen.
SUBSTITUTION ’94 – Aniek Nouwen comes on for the final few seconds as she takes the place of Ingle.
🕑 FULL TIME (ARSENAL 0 – 3 CHELSEA)
Chelsea win the title and confirm their first domestic treble with an emphatic 3-0 win.
Reflecting on the Match
An outstanding performance by The Blues as they’ve swept aside a dejected Arsenal team who weren’t at it today. Kerr and Kirby ran the show but a special mention to Carter who stepped into the back three and was a stalwart at the back for Chelsea. The early goal killed Arsenal and they never seemed to recover from going behind early on and it was all one way stuff from there as Kerr’s brace sealed the game. Emma Hayes and Chelsea have secured their first ever domestic treble in what has been an incredible season for The Blues.
