Arsenal demonstrate effective finishing against Chelsea in Champions League encounter.
LONDON — On Tuesday, Arsenal demonstrated why they have secured the UEFA Women’s Champions League title while Chelsea has yet to do so. The performance from the reigning champions was so commanding that even two disallowed goals for the visitors could not diminish the Gunners’ proficiency in scoring.
Chelsea was well aware of Arsenal’s capabilities from last summer, when they triumphed over Barcelona to claim their second Champions League trophy. However, the Blues were given a firsthand look at what a decisive European display entails during a 3-1 defeat that at times showcased a lackluster effort from Sonia Bompastor’s team.
Arsenal took an early lead, establishing a 2-0 advantage after Stina Blackstenius — who netted the decisive goal in last season’s final in Lisbon — converted a header from Katie McCabe’s free kick, followed by a long-range effort from Chloe Kelly that found the net.
The Gunners understood they would have limited opportunities — totaling 11 with six on target — and made sure to capitalize on the crucial chances early, leaving Chelsea struggling to respond. This is why they remain the only English team to have lifted the prestigious trophy.
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Although Chelsea lost grip on the match early, they managed to find the net late in the first half, which was anticipated to be the goal that reignited their chances.
Instead, it altered the dynamics of the match.
Veerle Buurman outjumped Laia Codina to head the ball in, but referee Alina Pesu ruled that the Netherlands international had fouled the Arsenal defender in the process. It was a questionable decision, but VAR was unlikely to overturn the referee’s call.
“I don’t think any single player on the pitch thought that was a foul to be honest, apart from the ref,” Lucy Bronze told Disney+. “But I think as soon as the ref gave it, VAR are not going to overturn it.
“It was disappointing because I feel like we could have swung the momentum back a little bit and then it just took a little bit longer. It would have been an important goal to score at half-time. And I think we probably could have got even more back into the game in the second half.”
If that initial goal had not been disallowed, the game’s trajectory could have been significantly altered and might have been pivotal in energizing Chelsea for a comeback.
Indeed, Chelsea appeared fatigued, and although Lauren James produced a moment of brilliance with a composed strike curling into the top corner, it did not provide sufficient impetus for the team. Some careless defending from the visitors allowed Alessia Russo to secure a third goal.
play1:15Lucy Bronze: Ref the only one on the pitch who would disallow Chelsea’s goal
Lucy Bronze expresses her frustrations following Chelsea’s 3-1 defeat to Arsenal in the first leg of the Women’s Champions League quarterfinal.
The referee subsequently disallowed another Chelsea goal for a foul on goalkeeper Anneke Borbe in the final moments of the match. This decision was more straightforward due to Kadeisha Buchanan’s collision with Borbe, and Arsenal maintained their advantage heading into the second leg.
RenΓ©e Slegers’ squad appears to have peaked at an opportune moment. After a sluggish start to the season and a disappointing opening in this competition with a 2-1 loss to OL Lyonnes, the Gunners are finding their form when it is most crucial.
This time last season, they were approaching the second leg of the quarterfinal with a 2-0 deficit against Real Madrid. To reverse that outcome required a mental toughness that many have admired. However, to maintain their lead now will necessitate a different mindset. It is their tie to lose, and having previously defeated Chelsea at Stamford Bridge earlier in the season, they will feel confident about their prospects.
It would be inaccurate to attribute all of Chelsea’s issues to the referee. They had two significant opportunities early in the match, one from Alyssa Thompson and another from James, both of which struck the woodwork, a fact they will likely regret in hindsight.
Despite once having a squad depth that was commendable, the Blues have been severely impacted by injuries. They lacked a No. 9 with Sam Kerr unavailable, and Mayra RamΓrez and Aggie Beever-Jones also sidelined. Catarina Macario — although not officially confirmed — is no longer a Chelsea player, according to sources, and Guro Reiten has moved to Gotham FC ahead of the NWSL window closing.
The Blues are also short on defenders, with Nathalie BjΓΆrn, Niamh Charles, and Millie Bright out due to various injuries. They will be bolstered by the return of Matildas duo Kerr and Ellie Carpenter from Women’s Asian Cup duties for the second leg. Arsenal will also benefit from the return of Steph Catley, Caitlin Foord, and Kyra Cooney-Cross, all of whom were unavailable due to fatigue following Australia’s 1-0 defeat to Japan in last Saturday’s Asian Cup final.
This is still effectively half-time in the tie. With the second leg at home, Chelsea will aim to overturn their two-goal deficit to advance to the semifinals. They accomplished this against Manchester City last season, so hope remains. Ultimately, if Chelsea wish to succeed and reach the semifinals of the competition, they must keep James healthy and ensure she receives the ball in critical areas.
Ironically, James’s goal was the highlight of the evening. She was a beacon of hope for Chelsea and has the ability to create opportunities from seemingly nothing, even demonstrating the audacity to chip a clever ball over the backline to assist her teammates.
She has been in excellent form since returning from a lengthy injury absence, and Chelsea sacrificed earlier results to have her ready for when it matters most. And nothing is more critical for Chelsea at this moment. There is no room for error, and a significant defeat would not be mitigated by their League Cup victory and potential success in the FA Cup, especially as they are likely to relinquish their league title after holding it for six years. Manchester City is nine points ahead, with Manchester United eight points ahead in second.
The pressure could not be greater as they prepare to host Arsenal, and the second leg next week will be pivotal for their season.
