Chelsea Women’s manager Emma Hayes may be playing down the significance, but there’s no escaping fans’ views on this weekend’s Arsenal v Chelsea clash.
The Gunners’ surprise defeat to Manchester United on Remembrance Sunday came as Chelsea Women ran out 4-0 winners against Everton at Kingsmeadow.
“I think we’re starting to find our stride,” said Hayes after watching Beth England score twice (coming a whisker away from a five-minute hat-trick) before Pernille Harder unleashed a 25-yard screamer deep into stoppage time.
Hayes says it’s too early in the Women’s Super League season to call next weekend’s derby at Meadow Park a title decider, but she knows that a win would put down an important marker.
Chelsea Women’s consistency is a marvel to behold. The defence is tight and well marshalled, the attacking options are broad, and it’s probably only in midfield, with chopping and changing to team selection, that there's any uncertainty.
The Blues have set a new 26-match unbeaten home record in the WSL, after Ji So-Yun’s opening goal on Sunday set the scene for a deserved victory.
Both Chelsea’s men and women are on form. Both notched four goals at the weekend, and both have a settled line-up to build on.
Emma Hayes and Frank Lampard do compare notes at the Cobham training ground that the teams share, though neither dares give advice to the other!
There have been times in recent weeks when Lampard has playfully asked if Ann-Katrin Berger, the Chelsea Women’s keeper, might be available, but now that Eddie Mendy is doing the business between the sticks (one goal conceded in six games), there’s no longer a vacancy.
The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and unless specifically stated are not necessarily those of Hammersmith & Fulham Council.
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