Arsenal Women moved into a strong position in their Champions League quarter final after a 3 1 home win over Chelsea in the first meeting between the sides. The result extended Arsenal’s winning run to 10 matches in all competitions and gave them a valuable two goal advantage ahead of the return leg.
Stina Blackstenius opened the scoring, Chloe Kelly added a stunning long range effort, and Alessia Russo restored Arsenal’s cushion after Lauren James had briefly brought Chelsea back into the contest.
Arsenal recovered from early pressure to strike twice
Chelsea started the game with more purpose and created the first dangerous moments. Alyssa Thompson caused problems down the right, while Lauren James and Sandy Baltimore also threatened as the visitors looked sharper in the opening stages.
Arsenal gradually settled and began to find more control. Their breakthrough arrived in the 22nd minute when Katie McCabe delivered a free kick into the area and Blackstenius met it with a header into the bottom corner.
The home side then doubled the lead through a very different kind of finish. After receiving the ball from Beth Mead, Kelly shifted inside from the left and fired a powerful shot from distance past Hannah Hampton to make it 2 0 before the break.
Chelsea thought they had found a response late in the first half, but their effort was ruled out after the referee judged there had been a foul on Laia Codina.
Chelsea responded, but Arsenal found the key third goal
Arsenal made a change at halftime, with Taylor Hinds coming on and McCabe moving into the center of defense. Soon after the restart, Russo had a good chance to increase the lead, but Hampton denied her and Blackstenius could not convert the rebound.
Chelsea eventually got back into the match in the 66th minute when Lauren James scored with an excellent strike from distance into the top corner. That goal gave the visitors renewed belief and raised the tension around the game.
Arsenal, however, answered in the 76th minute. McCabe did well to keep the move alive from the ground, Blackstenius then set the chance up, and Russo finished with real composure into the bottom corner to make it 3 1.
Late drama leaves Arsenal with a useful advantage
James continued to look dangerous and forced a save late on, while Chelsea had another goal ruled out in the closing moments after the referee penalized a foul on goalkeeper Anneke Borbe from a corner situation.
That meant Arsenal finished the night with a two goal margin, which could prove significant ahead of the second leg at Stamford Bridge on April 1.
Arsenal now switch focus before the return leg
Before heading to west London for the decisive second match, Arsenal will return to league action with a north London derby against Tottenham at the Emirates Stadium on March 28.
Chelsea still have work to do in the tie, but Arsenal have given themselves a strong platform and will head into the return leg knowing they are in a very good position.
