Live Blog: Russo levels late on for Arsenal Women against Chelsea
Chelsea have won the last six league titles and are five points above the Gunners
A reminder of Champions League glory in Arsenal's pre-match fan walk. Credit- Suzy Lycett @Boodlepim
Live BLog Saturday Nov 8th
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Full time: Arsenal 1-1 Chelsea.
90' WHAT IS GOING ON! Maanum has scored but the offside flag is up! Four added minutes. 1-1
86' GOAL! Russo equalises for Arsenal from Maanum's cross! 1-1
85' Baltimore and Jean-Francois come on for Thompson and Kaptein. 0-1
84' So close to yet another own goal! Maanum's ball across goal is nearly steered into her own net by Bjorn. 0-1
84' Now another effort from Kelly from further out swerves but is straight at Hampton. 0-1
82' Close! Kelly fires over inside the box. 0-1
78' Chloe Kelly is Arsenal's final change, coming on for Caitlin Foord. 0-1
77' Carpenter's pace is causing problems- she gets past Catley and Kerr's backheel almost finds Kaptein, before van Domselaar gets in and grabs the ball. 0-1
75' Russo finds Maanum and she tries to tee up the incoming Smith but the pass just isn't strong enough and Hampton is quick off her line to gather. 0-1
71' Maanum and Cooney-Cross on for Blackstenius and Pelova, whilst Kerr replaces Macario for Chelsea. 0-1
68' Free-kick for Arsenal as Russo is fouled by Walsh. Caldentey fires it in and Chelsea clear. 0-1
66' Smith's cutback finds Blackstenius and her tame cutback is pushed away by Hampton. The crowd have really got into this game now. 0-1
62' Taylor Hinds and Olivia Smith on for Katie McCabe and Beth Mead. 0-1
61' Bronze is replaced by Carpenter for Chelsea. 0-1
61' Have watched that goal back a few times now and I cannot see how it's been disallowed. No appeals for handball from the Chelsea players and the referee cannot have had a good view. Arsenal will be furious. 0-1
56' McCabe is now booked after tripping* Bronze. *yeah, not convinced. 0-1
55' The goal has been disallowed. 0-1
53' GOAL! Blackstenius fires home from Mead’s corner and Arsenal equalise!!! 1-1
51' Two crucial blocks from Wubben-Moy to deny Kaptein before van Domselaar saves Charles' shot! 0-1
48' Thompson gets away in behind and her low cross is well dealt with by McCabe. 0-1
46' Back underway. 0-1
The teams are back out for the second half.
Arsenal have rallied after Alyssa Thompson’s goal in the 9th minute but haven’t been clinical. They're very much still in this game with their pressing. 0-1
Half time: Arsenal 0-1 Chelsea.
45+1' Four added minutes. 0-1
43' Headed away by Cuthbert at the near post- a little too predictable. 0-1
43' Excellent recovery from Thompson after Pelova and Fox combined nicely- Arsenal win a corner. 0-1
40' Emma Hayes and Vic Akers are watching together here at the Emirates. 0-1
39' Dangerous break from Arsenal as Mead breaks over the halfway line and Blackstenius just goes too early- offside. 0-1
37' And now Russo finds Caldentey- straight at Hampton! 0-1
37' Low effort from Blackstenius is saved by Hampton at her near post. 0-1
36' Wonderful recovery from Bright after her pass was intercepted by Mead- her tackle was strong enough to send Blackstenius in behind but the Chelsea captain slid in to win the ball. 0-1
34' Left-footed effort is wide from Bronze after McCabe's throw-in was straight to her. Far too easy for Chelsea. 0-1
33' Kaptein with a Forrest Gump run through Arsenal's midfield and she tries the through ball but McCabe intercepts. 0-1
31' Blackstenius gets past her Sweden teammate Bjorn and cuts inside but the defender recovers well to put a foot in. 0-1
29' "Champions of Europe, you'll never sing that" roar the Arsenal fans. 0-1
23' Arsenal corner after Foord nutmegs Bronze and the Chelsea defender gets back in to clear. Headed away by Charles and then there's a free kick for a foul on Cuthbert by Catley. 0-1
21' Walsh just overcooks her through ball looking for Kaptein, who would have been away there in the box. 0-1
17' Mead finds Foord and she turns and shoots- it's not powerful enough and finds its way through to Hampton via a deflection. 0-1
15' Carnage! Bronze skips past McCabe and van Domselaar makes a crucial save from Macario onto the crossbar. Arsenal eventually clear. 0-1
13' Mead's low corner causes problems and Hampton has to beat it away before Russo's shot is blocked. 0-1
12' Foord with a quick throw-in to set Blackstenius in behind- Bjorn gets a touch and Arsenal have their first corner. 0-1
9' Goal! A deft chipped finish from Thompson to give Chelsea the lead, and it's been coming. 0-1
7' A half-chance for Kaptein as her half-volley flies wide of the mark from range. 0-0
6' Rytting Kaneryd is involved again after Thompson and Cuthbert combined. Her shot is blocked by McCabe. 0-0
2' Off the post! Rytting Kaneryd gets into the box and her prodded effort comes back off the woodwork and Arsenal clear. 0-0
1' Chelsea are indeed in a back four. 0-0
1' Underway! 0-0
The two sides will mark Remembrance Day before kick-off.
Here come the teams!
Arsenal travel to Bavaria in midweek to face Bayern Munich in the Champions League before a trip to Spurs at Leyton Orient. It's a huge week for Renee Slegers' side.
The Blues are without a number of forwards, including Mayra Ramirez, the aforementioned Beever-Jones, Lauren James and Guro Reiten. Sam Kerr loves a goal against Arsenal though, and she's on the bench!
Chelsea's last league defeat was here two seasons ago, a shock 4-1 loss to Jonas Eidevall's Arsenal.
Arsenal lost twice to Chelsea last season, including a late 1-0 defeat at Stamford Bridge in January. Renee Slegers writes in her programme notes: "I remember how we felt the last time we played against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge and we never want to feel that way again. The team doesn’t need extra motivation especially against a rival but it’s important to remind ourselves.”
Around 57,000 tickets have been sold, with a sold-out Chelsea away end too.
Beever-Jones is said to be rested as a precaution- she limped off late on while playing for England against Australia with a dead leg.
Arsenal have a five point gap to close on Chelsea, who remain unbeaten in the WSL under Sonia Bompastor and have won the last six league titles. Defeat today is simply not an option for the Gunners.
Steph Catley captains the Gunners in the absence of Kim Little.
It looks like a back four for the champions, with Sandy Baltimore and Ellie Carpenter on the bench- they've mainly played with a three this season. Aggie Beever-Jones is not in the squad.
Chelsea subs: Peng, Carpenter, Buurman, Nusken, Girma, Baltimore, Kerr, Hamano, Jean-Francois.
Chelsea: Peng, Carpenter, Buurman, Nusken, Girma, Baltimore, Kerr, Hamano, Jean-Francois.
Chelsea: Hampton; Charles, Bjorn, Bright, Bronze; Walsh, Cuthbert; Thompson, Kaptein, Rytting Kaneryd; Macario.
Arsenal subs: Borbe, Codina, Maanum, Smith, Kelly, Nighswonger, Hinds, Cooney-Cross, Harwood.
Arsenal: van Domselaar; McCabe, Catley, Wubben-Moy, Fox; Pelova, Caldentey; Foord, Russo, Mead; Blackstenius.
Arsenal hand starts to Lotte Wubben-Moy, Katie McCabe and Victoria Pelova- they replace Laia Codina, Taylor Hinds and the injured Kim Little.
Team news is in!
Good morning and welcome to one of the biggest fixtures in the world of women's football! It's Arsenal versus Chelsea, at an almost sold-out Emirates Stadium.