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Live Reporting
Adam Millington
All times stated are UK
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That’s all from us
FT: Chelsea 3-1 Arsenal
Thanks for tuning in this evening as Chelsea complete a ruthless victory over Arsenal and take another step towards the Women’s Super League title.
Who would’ve expected the game to be delayed for half an hour because Arsenal brought the wrong socks? Who would’ve expected Chelsea to score three goals in just 32 minutes?
We’ll be back tomorrow as Everton host Aston Villa at 13:00 GMT.
There are four more games coming up on Sunday, including Manchester City’s visit to Brighton at 12:30 GMT, which is live on BBC Two.
That’s all from us for tonight. I’ll leave you with Michael Emons’ match report, which you can read by clicking here.
Copyright: Getty Images
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‘The girls delivered the exact performance I was hoping for’
FT: Chelsea 3-1 Arsenal
Chelsea
Chelsea boss Emma Hayes speaking to Sky Sports: “I knew what we were going to do. I was confident in that.
The girls delivered the exact performance I was hoping for. Brilliant from
everyone, they were all magnificent. At the end of the day we’re depleted but
we had a game plan.“There’s still a way to go. We’re top, we’re three points closer. That’s another one chalked off. When you’re winning it helps your mentality. Tonight’s win will give the team a huge amount of confidence.”
On Arsenal’s sock issue and the delay to kick-off: “I’m gutted for their kit man. It’s so easy to have a dig but
I’m gutted for him because they are new people and it’s the last thing he probably
wanted.“If we had a change of socks then I would have put them on for us. These
things are done a few weeks in advance. It didn’t derail us whatsoever. I don’t
want to throw anyone under the bus. Those people will feel already under
pressure tonight, they don’t need me to add to it.” -
‘Arsenal are not in the title race, they are out’
FT: Chelsea 3-1 Arsenal
Ex-England midfielder Karen Carney, speaking to Sky Sports, says: “I was disappointed with Arsenal. This was their chance, they just didn’t show up today. They had the better team, the better squad and sometimes these things happen.
“For me they are not in the title race, now they are out and they will have to reflect on that and so will the manager.
“Chelsea were the better team. You have to want it. I’m not saying Arsenal didn’t want it, but Chelsea wanted it that bit more and that’s why Chelsea are in the title race and Arsenal aren’t.”
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‘Arsenal will keep going until it’s mathematically impossible’
FT: Chelsea 3-1 Arsenal
Helen Ward
Former Chelsea and Wales striker on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra
I think there’s too much to do now [for Arsenal], especially if Manchester City do
win. Trying to overhaul a six-point deficit of one team is difficult enough,
but if there are two teams six points ahead of you, you’re relying on all sorts
of results going your way. At this stage of the season I can’t see that
happening for both Chelsea and Manchester City. Arsenal will keep going until
it’s mathematically impossible, but they know that is a really tough one to take
and their focus will probably now turn to the Conti Cup final. -
‘I don’t think it’s sunk in yet’
FT: Chelsea 3-1 Arsenal
Chelsea
Chelsea’s Lauren James, speaking to BBC Sport: “I don’t think it’s sunk in yet. A win against any team always feels amazing, especially at Stamford Bridge. Even more so in a London derby, especially with what happened in December. It was even more of a nice feeling today to go out there and show what we’re about.
On scoring another goal at Stamford Bridge: “The staff have a little joke: new hairstyle, Stamford bridge. I just want to continue trying to help the team and scoring as many goals as possible.”
On what’s different about Stamford Bridge: “It’s just an amazing atmosphere, big pitch. I just feel free.”
On whether she sets herself a goal target: “I don’t set myself a target, I just take each game as it comes and hopefully I can just keep improving.”
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‘Everyone was waiting for us to slip up’
FT: Chelsea 3-1 Arsenal
Chelsea
Chelsea goalscorer Lauren James speaking to Sky Sports on how the loss to Arsenal in December motivated the players: “It fired us up a bit more. You’re coming to our house and it’s
not going to be easy.“Everyone was watching us tonight and waiting for us to slip up. For us to keep the top three on their toes was good.”
On the kick-off delay: “Bizarre but I’m quite a laid back person so I didn’t
actually mind it. It didn’t affect us. We warmed up twice and everyone would
rather not and just play football.”On her central role: “Anywhere Emma puts me on the pitch I feel quite free. I’ve got to stay higher and a bit more central but I was floating in different positions.”
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‘We weren’t good enough today’
FT: Chelsea 3-1 Arsenal
Arsenal
Arsenal manager Jonas Eidevall, speaking to Sky Sports: “I think we played to their strengths in the first half. They’re very compact and aggressive. They counter-attack very well and we turned over the ball too easily with too little balance behind. We get punished on the counter and they were ruthless.”
On Arsenal being too slow to adjust: “We knew what they were going to play, it’s two different styles against each other. They were clearly much better at performing their style today. We got hurt because we lost the ball and lacked balance.”
On whether they were bad goals to concede: “We weren’t good enough today. We turned over the ball way too many times, they get way too many counter-attacks. We know they’re very effective, you can’t give a team like Chelsea those opportunities.”
On whether the delay impacted the start: “I don’t think so, it was the same for both teams. There are plenty of things we can control and that’s what we have to take accountability for.”
On what happened: “I only knew it was a clash of colours with the kits and that needed to be resolved. Why that was I have no idea.”
On the implications for the title race: “I’m looking at this game here. I’m not happy with our performance. That’s all I’m focused on. We should be unsatisfied with the way we performed as a team because that’s not our levels. I need to take accountability for that, we need to learn from that and we need to go next week.”
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Get Involved
#bbcfootball, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)
William: At the start of this game, I said Arsenal had to win this game when you look at the players both teams have available. Given the resources at their disposal, is third place good enough for Arsenal? Jonas should be under huge pressure now.
Anon: Chelsea should have won this by 4 or 5 goals, the fact it is only by 2 will be a small boost to Man City.
Sulaimon: I am disappointed in Arsenal’s performance tonight, they needed to show up and they didn’t. Kudos to Chelsea, another WSL title on the cards.
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‘Fabulous effort from every player’
FT: Chelsea 3-1 Arsenal
Chelsea
Chelsea manager Emma Hayes, speaking to BBC Sport: “I said that I expect a Chelsea standard and I saw that tonight in the performance. I thought it was a fabulous effort from every player to deliver what we needed. We’ve been depleted, we had to play Lauren James as a centre-forward today and she did a tremendous job but this is about the whole team and it’s an amazing effort from everyone.”
On whether she felt relaxed at 3-0: “I don’t know about relaxed but at least a little more comfortable. We knew what we had to do and we did it.”
On Lauren James’ performance: “It’s her home, she gets her hair done every time we play here. Whoever does her hair – please, make sure you keep doing it!”
On how she motivates players amid so many games in four competitions: “I don’t know why anyone needs motivation to play for Chelsea, it’s an honour and a privilege. I doubt they do and if they do they probably shouldn’t be here”
On whether Chelsea are in the driving seat for the title: “We’re top, that’s clear. We’re three points in the direction we want to go and that’s it.”
On whether they’ll ask Arsenal for the Chelsea socks back: “They’re lucky for us, they can keep them.”
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‘Title slipped away slightly’
FT: Chelsea 3-1 Arsenal
Arsenal
Arsenal midfielder Kim Little, speaking to Sky Sports: “We’re disappointed in our performance. We didn’t start well enough. Just maybe our energy at the start which we know we need to do against Chelsea.
On the impact of the delayed start: “We’re all professionals, we have to cope with adapting to things. I don’t think [it plays a part]. We all know we need to turn up as soon as that whistle blows and we didn’t do it in the way we wanted to today.”
On why it took Arsenal so long to recover after conceding three first-half goals: “I think there’s a few tactical elements early on that we didn’t fix quick enough and against a team of Chelsea’s quality you can’t allow that. Our press, where we are on the pitch, how close we are to their players.”
On the impact this has on the title race: “It slipped away slightly I think. Chelsea are obviously in the driving seat but we go into these games and give it everything we’ve got to give it a small chance.”
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‘I’m not going to be drawn into making excuses’
FT: Chelsea 3-1 Arsenal
Arsenal
Arsenal boss Jonas Eidevall tells BBC Sport: “We turned over the ball too many times in their
midfield. They were ruthless in punishing us for that.”On what he said at half-time: “They showed character. We have to praise the players for
doing that, to never give up. There were parts of our positioning and our
decision-making that we needed to get better. We also had things with our
defensive organisation where we were too easy to play within which also needed
correction.”On if the delay due to the kit clash affected his side: “No. I’m not going to be drawn into making excuses
like that. It was the same for both teams.”On Arsenal’s outlook for the rest of season: “This game here is what’s been my focus. We’ve
been working very hard for that and that’s where my focus is at.” -
‘I feel the freedom here’
FT: Chelsea 3-1 Arsenal
Chelsea
Chelsea forward Lauren James, speaking to Sky Sports, says: “It’s always nice to play here and I feel the freedom here with the fans. It obviously helped us gain momentum and today showed that.
“Everyone allows me to have freedom and those behind me make sure I’m doing my job defensively and if I am they say ‘do what you want in possession’.
“I don’t really think about it, I do what the opportunity is giving me and just try my best.”
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James maintains scoring form
FT: Chelsea 3-1 Arsenal
Copyright: Getty Images
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‘We always find a way’
FT: Chelsea 3-1 Arsenal
Chelsea
Chelsea’s Erin Cuthbert speaking to Sky Sports: “We were quite frustrated. We’ve been waiting to play the game for a while. We were quite fired up. The fans kept us going.
“I have a very good memory of the last game and the midfield battle was won by them. These games are won in small margins but today we came out and were ready. The Chelsea way we call it, we have a great way of picking ourselves up. When people thing we’re down and out we always find a way.”
On the delay to kick-off: “It was really late in the day that we found out. We are professionals and we have to manage it. The girls handled themselves impeccably.”
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Arsenal out of the title race?
FT: Chelsea 3-1 Arsenal
Ex-England international Izzy Christiansen, speaking on Sky Sports, says: “Arsenal now have probably dropped themselves out of the race and it’s going to be Manchester City pushing Chelsea all the way.”
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How things stand
FT: Chelsea 3-1 Arsenal
Are Arsenal now out of the title race?
It would require a huge turnaround for them to find a way back with just six games remaining. They trail Chelsea by six points already, and they could be six points behind Manchester City, too, if they win their game against Brighton on Sunday.
For Chelsea, it’s another big step on their quest for the quadruple.
Copyright: Getty Images
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‘Arsenal are really not happy’
FT: Chelsea 3-1 Arsenal
Helen Ward
Former Chelsea and Wales striker on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra
Arsenal will be really disappointed, particularly the manner of the goals. Chelsea know how to grind teams down and they punish them on the transition and make it count where it matters. For Arsenal they are really not happy with the performance and the result and they know that was a big opportunity to keep them in the title race.
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Get Involved
#bbcfootball, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)
William: At the start of this game, I said Arsenal had to win this game when you look at the players both teams have available. Given the resources at their disposal, is 3rd place good enough for Arsenal? Jonas should be under huge pressure now.
Rob: Chelsea should have won this by 4 or 5 goals, the fact it is only by 2 will be a small boost to Man City.
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FULL-TIME
Chelsea 3-1 Arsenal
A huge victory for Chelsea.
It was a controlling performance, but it’s the table which will really matter.
It’s three very big points for the title race.
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Post update
Chelsea 3-1 Arsenal
Another big save from Manuela Zinsberger!
This time she makes the stop with an outstretched foot, preventing Ashley Lawrence scoring another for Chelsea.
She’s stopped four certain goals in the second half.
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