Chelsea Set WSL Unbeaten Record After Two Arsenal Goals Are Disallowed

Champions for the last six seasons, Chelsea set a new Women’s Super League record after a frantic and controversial second half away to Arsenal.

A late Alessia Russo equaliser denied Chelsea victory but Arsenal had two other goals disallowed, either of which could have resulted in a home victory. Substitute Frida Maanum thought she had scored a late winner only for the goal to be ruled out for a borderline offside.

In drawing away to the European champions, Chelsea also made it 33 WSL games without defeat since their last loss away to Liverpool on May 1, 2024. It is a record they already held themselves having also gone 33 matches unbeaten between February 2019 and February 2021.

In the absence of their top scorer this season, Aggie Beever-Jones who was rested as a precaution after not recovering completely from a dead leg suffered on intrnational duty, Catarina Macario started up front alongside her United States’ team-mate Alyssa Thompson.

Within ten minutes Thompson had given Chelsea a deserved lead. The striker raced forward on the counter attack before exchanging passes with Rytting Kaneryd. With no backlift, Thompson dug out a sumptuous chip from the edge of the penalty area which left Arsenal goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar rooted to the spot.

It was a first-ever WSL goal for Thomson who is currently the second-most expensive female player in the world. The striker moved to Chelsea from Angel City in September for a reported $1.3 million. This figure has only been surpassed by the $1.5 million paid by Orlando Pride for Mexican forward Lisbeth Ovalle.

Moments later, Macario broke forward to force a save from van Domselaar who pushed her shot onto the crossbar with Arsenal fortunate to survive in the ensuing goalmouth scramble. Chelsea had already hit the post through Rytting Kaneryd within the first two minutes.

Having played with a back three for most of the season, Chelsea surprisingly reverted to a back four for their biggest test so far in this campaign. With Arsenal’s strength coming from wide areas, it seemed the move was aimed at bolstering Chelsea’s defences in those positions with wingers Rytting Kaneryd and Thompson doubling up to provide extra protection on the flanks.

In the center of midfield, Erin Cuthbert was assigned to shadow Arsenal’s creative metronome Mariona Caldentey. The Scottish player utilised her physicality at an attempt to unsettle the Spaniard as Chelsea dominated the opening stages.

Arsenal upped their game towards the end of the first half, concentrating on pressing Chelsea captain Millie Bright, making a record-equalling 210th WSL appearance. Bright was often caught in possession leading to half-chances for Arsenal before the break.

Early in the second half, Arsenal thought they had equalised when Stina Blackstenius thrashed home a loose ball which fell to her following a corner.
The players and entire stadium celebrated the goal but, after complaints from the Chelsea players, referee Melissa Burgin disallowed the goal for handball against Blackstenius.

Several replays were inconclusive but it appeared the referee was mistaken. Blackstenius’ hands moved as she controlled the ball but only to move them out of the way as she trapped the ball with her thigh. With Video Assistant Referees now being used in the Spanish women’s league, there will be more questions over when it will be utilised by the WSL.

The match was watched by an attendance of 56,537 at the Emirates Stadium, by far the largest crowd of the WSL season so far. Chelsea head coach Sonia Bompastor remains unbeaten in the 30 league games in which she has managed Chelsea since arriving in England from France.

The result leaves Chelsea five points clear of Arsenal who move up to fourth position in the WSL with over a third of the season played. Next week, the champions travel to play Liverpool away, the last team to beat them in the league. Avoid defeat there, and it will be a new record of 34 games unbeaten.