Key events
63 min: Fox plays a lovely one-two with Maanum on the right hand side. She glides past Nüsken with ease and seems full of confidence. Once the season is over, Hayes will be excited by the prospect of working with the fullback in the US national team.
60 min: A loose ball falls to Frida Maanum almost 40 yards from goal. With nothing really on, she tries to beat Hampton from range in attempt that mirrors Mead’s earlier effort in the first half.
57 min: Chelsea are piling the pressure on. Cuthbert floats the ball into the box for Leupolz but it flicks off an Arsenal head and out for a corner.
53 min: Zinsberger is the latest player down. The Arsenal physios have their work cut out, treating Codina and Zinsberger in quick succession.
5o min: Lauren James picks up the first yellow card of the game for a late challenge on Codina. Codina is not happy with the tackle at all as she goes to ground clutching her ankle.
49 min: Chelsea play the ball around patiently as they approach the Arsenal penalty area. Niamh Charles slides in Johanna Rytting Kaneryd who cuts it back to Melanie Leupolz. The German midfielder blazes her effort over the bar.
46 min: There are shouts for a penalty as Stina Blackstenius goes down in the box under Cuthbert’s challenge. Watching the replays back, there doesn’t seem to have been much in it.
45 min: Arsenal kick off in this second half, minus Leah Williamson. She makes way for Laia Codina. Perhaps it’s a precautionary measure.
Both teams are heading back to the pitch. They’re potentially 45 minutes away from League Cup Final win.
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Half time: Arsenal 0-0 Chelsea
It’s been an engrossing first half that deserves more than the 0-0 scoreline. Although Chelsea actually found the net with a disallowed goal, Arsenal have had more shots on goal and have looked assured in possession. Let’s hope for some more clear-cut opportunities for both sides in the second half.
45 +4 min: Chelsea win a free kick and launch the ball into the penalty area. There are some shouts for handball as the ball strikes McCabe’s hand but it’s not clear-cut enough for Chelsea to win a penalty.
45 min: There will be four minutes of additional time at the end of this first half.
44 min: There’s little to separate the sides. Both teams have had their moments with Chelsea managing to find the back of the net and Arsenal testing Hampton. A bright start was always going to be key and all the players have understood the assignment.
38 min: A number of players have slipped in this first half. Hampton is the latest after she clears the ball. She’s lying down, holding her hip so there will be a short break in play. Phew, I needed a breather and I’m not even playing. It’s been like a basketball game so far.
35 min: Chelsea’s corner results to nothing, giving Arsenal an opportunity to counter attack. They break quickly and within three passes they’re almost through on goal. A fantastic recovery run from James stops the danger.
33 min: Chelsea are right back at Arsenal though. Sjoeke Nusken wins the ball high up the pitch and brings Ramírez into the game on the edge of the box. Ramírez cleverly plays in James on the left but she struggles to get the ball out of her feet. Her shot is blocked by Leah Williamson and it’s out for a corner.
32 min: Arsenal almost score from the resulting corner. Although Chelsea initially head it away, the ball loops up for Lotte Wubben-Boy to volley on the edge of the area. It looked close.
31 min: The game is heating up! Chelsea survive another wave of Arsenal pressure as Jess Carter makes a crucial challenge. The ball only falls as far as Katie McCabe who smashes the ball towards goal from 35 yards out. It’s well tipped over by Hampton.
26 min: Arsenal have grown into the game. The Arsenal players play some beautiful stuff in the middle of the park to release Lacasse on the left. She takes a touch into the box and shoots straight at Hampton.
24 min: Chelsea almost add to their disappointment by conceding straight after that disallowed goal. Beth Mead dispossess Kadeisha Buchanan in the Chelsea half. The England international sees Hampton off her line and tries a cheeky chip over the keeper. It’s just over the bar to Hampton’s relief.
Disallowed goal
Erin Cuthbert wins the ball on the edge of Arsenal’s box and passes it into the Ramírez. The Colombian strikes a fantastic shot into the bottom left hand corner from 25 yards. But it won’t count as Cuthbert controlled the ball with her hand in the build up.
18 min: Hannah Hampton has looked assured since coming into the Chelsea starting XI this season. She shows her nous by dealing with a cross from the right hand side by coming out to claim the ball before an unmarked Lacasse could take advantage at the back post.
12 min: Now it’s Arsenal’s chance to have a go. The play the ball around neatly in the middle of the park with the Chelsea defenders backing off. Cloe Lacasse lets fly with her left foot but the shot is high and wide.
11 min: There’s an air of expectation every time Lauren James picks up the ball. She receives it deep and exchanges passes with Mayra Ramírez. On receiving the return pass, she goes down under a challenge on the edge of the box. It looked soft – no penalty.
8 min: Chelsea have the first chance to go in front. The ball ricochets into the path of the England forward on the right hand side. She takes it down with ease and turns the defender inside out before firing a shot at Manuela Zinsberger. It’s a comfortable save for the Arsenal keeper but it represents Chelsea’s threat in attack.
2 min: The Arsenal fans are in full voice. The Londoners have demonstrated real commitment to make it to Molineux today in spite of train disruptions.
1 min: Chelsea kick off in this Continental Cup Final, playing from left to right. Let’s go!
Jonas Eidevall has some words for the Arsenal fans in his press conference: “The fans are very important for creating the atmosphere and belief on the stage, and our fans have been so great in doing so. When we speak about motivation for the players, to win for our fans, for all the hours that they put in travelling and supporting our team, it’s for them we need to play, it’s for them we need to win.
Emma Hayes highlighted the importance of quick start today in her press conference: “It’s a final and as always in these games, the team that shows up strong, particularly in the first part … If you think about our game at the Emirates this season, that was over at half-time. The game at Stamford Bridge was over at half-time, so you better show up from the off. If you don’t, it can make it difficult.”
How the teams line up today.
Arsenal: Zinsberger, Fox, Wubben-Moy, Williamson, Mead, Little, Maanum, McCabe, Pelova, Lacasse, Blackstenius
Subs: D’angelo, Williams, Catley, Foord, Russo, Wienroither, Codina, Cooney-Cross, Lia
Chelsea: Hampton, Nusken, Carter, Leupolz, James, Périsset, Rytting Kaneryd, Charles, Cuthbert, Buchanan, Ramírez
Subs: Berger, Musovic, Ingle, Macario, Reiten, Lawrence, Kirby, Hamano, Beever-Jones
Preamble
Hello and welcome to the Continental Cup Final match between Arsenal and Chelsea at Molineux.
It’s a huge clash between two titans of English football and the game marks the third League Cup Final match-up involving the two sides. Chelsea beat Arsenal 2-1 in the 2019-20 season before Arsenal got their revenge, beating Chelsea 3-1 in last year’s final. Who will come out on top today?
Arsenal will be fired up for today’s game after their Women’s Super League title hopes were all but dashed in a crushing 3-1 defeat to Chelsea two weeks ago. Jonas Eidevall’s side are also out of the FA Cup so today’s final likely represents their only chance to win silverware this season.
On the contrary, Chelsea are still competing in all competitions and will be dreaming of winning the quadruple in Emma Hayes’ last season in charge. Victory today would set them on their way but it won’t be easy against the most successful team in Women’s League Cup history.
If the last few meetings between these London rivals are anything to go by, whoever starts the brightest should win the game. Kick off is at 3pm BST.
