After another mid-week fixture, the Chelsea Women turn around to take an in-form Arsenal side in the season finale at Kingsmeadow.
The mid-week news about the departures of both Magdalena Eriksson and Pernille Harder may have donned some clouds on the end of the season, but the task remains the same. Since the memorable UEFA Women’s Champions League run came to a close, the Chelsea Women have made light work of the Women’s Super League. Still counting the 2-1 victory over Liverpool at the beginning of May, the Blues have outscored their opposition 19-1 in the fifth month of 2023. The rivals to the north have been in the same kind of form heading into the end of the campaign.
For the fourth and final outing of 2023, the west Londoners will encounter the north Londoners. What a final match in front of the home fans for both Eriksson and Harder. Jonas Eidevall’s team is unbeaten in its last three league fixtures despite falling just short in the Champions League semifinals at home to Wolfsburg.
The injuries have hit the club harder than anyone since the start of the campaign, and still, the Gunners have a shot to finish as one of the top-two clubs in the English domestic women’s top-flight once again. Most recently, the north London side lost Lia Walti against Everton as the Blues’ loanee Aggie Beever-Jones caught Walti on her ankle. She was then stretchered off the field. Walti joined Beth Mead, Vivianne Miedema, Leah Williamson, Laura Wienroither as the Gunners on the long-term injury list.
The hope from everyone at the club and around the women’s football community is that the Swiss international can return in time to captain her national team on July 21 when their World Cup campaign begins against the Philippines. Even with all the key losses, Frida Maanum has led the Gunners’ charge for a potential WSL title. In six out of the last seven matches, the Norwegian international has been a part of at least one goal.
Three games, and four goal contributions for Maanum as she and Stina Blackstenius attempt to put the reds on her back toward the end of the campaign. In addition to those two attacking threats, the Dutch international Victoria Pelova has played all 90 minutes in the last four WSL fixtures. The midfielder has had one goal contribution in two straight contests including a the final goal at Broadfield Stadium to seal the three points. Knocking off the Blues at Kingsmeadow for the first time since February of 2021 against Brighton and Hove Albion could be one of the toughest tasks for a WSL opponent to accomplish.
Going to west London and beating three-time defending champions Chelsea may seem like a tall task, but Arsenal is without a doubt capable of it
Losing one of their most valuable pieces has to motivate the Gunners, especially with a potential trophy on the line. The north London side has won the last two games by three or more goals including an impressive 4-0 victory over Brighton on the road where AFC jumped out to a 2-0 within the first eight minutes. Defensively, only Manchester United has recorded more clean sheets than the north London outfit in 2022/2023 in the league.
The reds have won 15 out of the 29 contests among all competitions between the two sides, but the north Londoners have only won one out of the last six dating back to to the 2020/2021 FA Cup. Back in January, Chels‘ used an 89’ header by Sam Kerr to salvage a draw at the Emirates Stadium. Competitive is the one thing we can expect from a contest between these two sides.
No matter who is playing a part on each side, these London rivals continuously piece together memorable fixtures. Sunday afternoon is going to be not different. A lot has changed since the beginning of March in the Conti Cup final, and with both teams playing for Champions League positions, the intensity through all 90 minutes is going to make for a must-watch matchup.