WSL giants clash, Arsenal vs Chelsea at Emirates Stadium

Once again, the two most successful teams in recent years match up in the Women’s Super League when Chelsea head north to face Arsenal in this early stage of the WSL season. The game will be held at The Emirates Stadium, the home of the Arsenal men’s team, due to the magnitude of the match. Arsenal Women have also outgrown Meadow Park in Borehamwood, with its 4,500 capacity.

Arsenal sold out the 60,000-seat Emirates Stadium three times last season in games against Chelsea, Manchester United, and North London rivals Tottenham Hotspur, breaking the WSL attendance record on each occasion. As a result, there are plans for the Gunners to move all their home matches to the Emirates in the near future.

Chelsea have been the dominant force in the WSL in recent years, with Emma Hayes leading the team from Kings Road to five consecutive league titles between the 2019-20 and 2023-24 seasons. The side is the most successful in WSL history, with a total of seven league trophies to their name.

However, Emma Hayes has now moved on to manage the USWNT, and new boss Sonia Bompastor will be looking to continue the team’s impressive winning streak. Arsenal have their own loss to contend with this season, as Vivianne Miedema, the WSL’s record goal scorer, left for WSL rivals Manchester City at the end of last season.

At this early stage of the new season, Chelsea boast a 100% win record, with two victories from two games, sitting second in the table with a superior goal difference to Manchester City above them after an emphatic 7-0 victory away to Crystal Palace. Having scored eight goals in their opening two matches, they are the league’s top scorers. Arsenal, on the other hand, have only scored three goals in their three games, clearly missing Miedema’s presence.

Arsenal, though unbeaten, have one win and two draws from their opening fixtures and sit in fifth place. It’s been a less-than-convincing start for the Gunners, who have finished third in each of the last three seasons. They are also coming off a humbling 5-2 loss against German giants Bayern Munich in the Champions League, while Chelsea secured an impressive 3-2 victory against Real Madrid.

Bompastor, who recently won Manager of the Month, will have Hannah Hampton, Erin Cuthbert, and Catarina Macario all available to face Arsenal. In contrast, Arsenal boss Jonas Eidevall will be without Laura Wienroither for a couple more weeks, although Lina Hurtig is close to returning to the squad. Eidevall spoke highly of Bompastor, stating she’s “set a clear trademark” at Chelsea, who “look like a really good football team.”

One thing is for sure—this early encounter, live on TV and set in an impressive stadium, will be well worth watching.

Arsenal Women vs Chelsea Women odds

The odds are tightly balanced for this highly anticipated Women’s Super League clash. Both Arsenal Women and Chelsea Women are priced at 8/5, reflecting the competitive nature of their rivalry. A draw stands at 23/10, suggesting bookmakers see this as a closely fought contest with no clear favourite. Fans can expect a thrilling encounter at the Emirates Stadium as two of the league’s top teams go head-to-head.

Arsenal Women vs Chelsea Women, Women’s Super League, The Emirates Stadium, 13:45 BST Saturday, 12 October 2024.