Arsenal vs Chelsea: A Thrilling Encounter
A thrilling encounter at the Emirates Stadium saw Arsenal snatch a late 1-1 draw against Chelsea, thanks to a stunning equaliser from Alessia Russo in the final minutes. The match opened with an impressive solo goal from Chelsea’s Alyssa Thompson, putting the visitors in the lead early on.
Despite Chelsea’s advantage, Arsenal pressed on and finally found their footing when Russo scored in the 87th minute, ensuring Chelsea remained unbeaten in their Women’s Super League campaign, extending their record to 33 matches without a loss.
Chelsea came close to extending their lead when both Johanna Rytting Kaneryd and Catarina Macario hit the woodwork.
Under the management of Sonia Bompastor, who took over from Emma Hayes in May 2024, Chelsea has yet to face defeat. Arsenal, on the other hand, voiced their frustration earlier in the game when a potential equaliser from Stina Blackstenius was disallowed due to a controversial handball decision prior to her goal.
Manchester United’s Setback
In other WSL action, Manchester United faced a setback with their first defeat of the season, losing 1-0 to Aston Villa at Leigh Sports Village. Miri Taylor’s goal in the first half was enough to seal the victory for Villa, handing United their initial loss in eight matches and preventing them from moving to the top of the table.
Villa, riding a wave of form, now boasts six unbeaten matches in all competitions and has tallied two league wins this season.
United began the match energetically, with Fridolina Rolfö delivering a threatening cross that was successfully cleared by Villa’s Anna Patten.
Both teams struggled for rhythm in the first half, but Villa capitalized on a corner that found Taylor, who skillfully converted to give the visitors a crucial lead. After the break, United sought an equaliser, introducing top goalscorer Melvine Malard alongside Leah Galton and Anna Sandberg. Despite strong efforts, including a header from substitute Rachel Williams that was safely caught by Villa’s goalkeeper Sabrina D’Angelo, United were unable to break through, marking a surprising win for Aston Villa.
