Chelsea 0-0 Arsenal: Gunners escape with a point and WSL lead intact after late handball drama

Chelsea 0-0 Arsenal: Gunners escape with a point and WSL lead intact as late Leah Williamson handball goes unpunished to leave Blues furious after tense table-topping clash

  • Arsenal travelled to Kingsmeadow to face London rivals Chelsea in the WSL 
  • A tense first-half passed goalless without clear chances but high quality play 
  • Defences were on top but Chelsea were furious after a late handball call 
  • Leah Williamson looked to have handled in the box but the referee played on  











It is still all to play for at the top of the Women’s Super League as Chelsea missed the chance to leapfrog Arsenal with the hosts held to a 0-0 draw at Kingsmeadow.

The Gunners are still two points clear at the top but have played a game more than their London rivals.

Both managers had insisted before kick-off that the result of this game was not ‘season-defining’ and they proved to be right with the title race still very much in the balance. 

Chelsea couldn't find a way past Arsenal at Kingsmeadow on Friday as they settled for a point

Chelsea couldn’t find a way past Arsenal at Kingsmeadow on Friday as they settled for a point

Defences came out on top in a fast-paced draw which left Arsenal still leading the WSL 

The Blues surrounded the officials at full-time after a controversial handball call in injury-time

The Blues surrounded the officials at full-time after a controversial handball call in injury-time

MATCH FACTS  

Chelsea (4-3-3): Berger, Carter, Bright, Nouwen, Andersson, Ingle, Cuthbert (Ji 58), Reiten (Charles 82), Kirby (Fleming 82), Harder, Kerr

Subs not used: Musovic, James, Spence, Abdullina

Booked: Maritz, Walti

Goals: None

Manager: Emma Hayes

Arsenal (4-3-3): Zinsberger, Maritz (Wienroither 72), Williamson, Raffaele (Maanum 64), Catley, Walti, Little, Miedema (Nobbs 90), Mead (Parris 72), Food, Blackstenius

Subs not used: Williams, Beattie, Boye, Iwabuchi, Heath

Booked: None

Goals: None

Manager: Jonas Eidevall

Referee: Rebecca Welch

Attendance: 3330 

But psychologically, this was an important result for Arsenal. Last season their form against their top four rivals was poor with just one victory, which came against Manchester United.

But since Jonas Eidevall’s arrival, they have drawn and beaten Chelsea, United and Manchester City.

Both sides may feel they could have had all three points but, on the balance of play, a draw was perhaps a fair result.

Chelsea started on the front foot and had the first real chance after just three minutes. Jonna Anderson’s lofted pass found Pernille Harder on the left wing and she cut the ball back to Fran Kirby on the edge of the box, but the striker was off balance and could only fire high and wide.

Arsenal grew into the game and had a half shout for a penalty when Caitlin Foord went to ground in the box under a challenge from Jess Carter, but referee Rebecca Welch was not interested in pointing to the spot.

The Gunners continued to threaten and Vivianne Miedema was fractions away from giving her side the lead in the 20th minute. The Dutch striker rattled the post with a close-range volley after Rafalle had headed down Steph Catley’s cross.

Both teams had chances to score before the end of the half as Guro Reiten headed over Sam Kerr’s cross before Stina Blackstenius did the same at the other end after meeting Foord’s delivery. The Swedish striker was unmarked and should perhaps have done better. Kerr then saw a shot from the edge of the six-yard box blocked superbly by Catley.

Chelsea started the second half as they began the first as they again went close to breaking the deadlock. Patient build up play saw Fran Kirby and Erin Cuthbert exchange passes before the latter’s shot was vitally blocked by Kim Little. Jonna Anderson then saw a volley fly just wide from the resulting corner.

The Blues then had two huge chances to score when Harder sent a cross into the box but an unmarked Kerr completely missed the ball before Kirby’s effort was blocked by Rafaelle.

Emma Hayes was furious at the full-time whistle and also confronted the referee on the field

Emma Hayes was furious at the full-time whistle and also confronted the referee on the field 

Both teams went close but Chelsea will have to find another way to retake the WSL lead

Both teams went close but Chelsea will have to find another way to retake the WSL lead 

Arsenal had another shout for a penalty as Foord’s shot hit Carter’s leg before the ball ricocheted onto the defender’s arm but again referee Welch was unmoved. Chelsea then raced down the other end as Ji’s shot was spilled by Manuela Zinsberger before Harder slipped while trying to connect with the re-bound.

A golden opportunity fell to Reiten moments later as the ball dropped at her feet inside the six-yard box, but the forward could only fire straight into the hands of Zinsberger.

Arsenal once again grew in confidence and should have found the winner from two goal-mouth scrambles at the end of the half. First, Millie Bright cleared a free-kick off the line before Miedema had a shot blocked from the resulting corner.

At the other end, Fleming had the ball in the net after tapping-in Kerr’s cross but the forward was correctly flagged offside.

Chelsea then had a huge shout for a penalty turned down in added time as Niamh Charles’ cross hit the hand of Arsenal centre back Leah Williamson. Replays indicated the Gunners’ defender got away with one.

A final chance fell to Kerr but her header was held by Zinsberger.  



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