Arsenal’s journey to the Women’s Champions League title last year was marked by spectacular comebacks, but it does not appear that the Gunners will need them to continue their title defense beyond the quarter-finals, having beaten Chelsea 3-1 on Tuesday night in the first leg of this all-English quarter-final clash. Goals from Stina Blackstenius and Chloe Kelly put the reigning European champions in front ahead of next week’s second leg at Stamford Bridge, where they will need only avoid defeat to reach the semi-finals.
At this stage of the competition last year, Arsenal were 2-0 down to Real Madrid, requiring them to beat the Spanish side 3-0 at the Emirates Stadium, the same week Chelsea managed to overturn the same deficit at home to beat Manchester City. The Gunners therefore know very well that this 3-1 victory does not mean the end of this double confrontation. That said, it’s a fantastic lead, especially considering they’ve only managed one win at Chelsea in their last 10 visits.
It was Blackstenius who gave them the lead, heading home a superb Katie McCabe free-kick midway through the first half. The score could have been opened earlier, either by Lauren James hitting the post for Chelsea early at the other end, or by Blackstenius seeing her shot blocked by Hannah Hampton a few minutes before, but the Swede was ruthless to seize her second chance and give the hosts the lead. Kelly then doubled the lead ten minutes later. With plenty of time and space at the edge of the box to arm his shot, his powerful strike slipped under Hampton, who could have done better given his world-class talent.
When James sent a magnificent curling shot into the top corner midway through the second half, it looked like Chelsea might go into the second leg at home with a much-reduced deficit. But Russo responded to the magic of his England teammate with a stroke of genius of his own, scoring Arsenal’s third goal with a brilliant volley after being launched deep by Blackstenius behind a completely disoriented Blues defense. This double confrontation is not yet over, but it is firmly under the control of the Gunners, whose defense of the Champions League title seems to continue – at the expense of their London rivals, still in search of their first coronation in the UWCL.
GOAL notes the Arsenal players at the Emirates Stadium…
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