After the winter break, Chelsea Women are back... and facing the biggest challenge of the season. Sunday’s clash between the Blues and Arsenal will be a noon showdown at the 60,000-seater Emirates stadium.
Some are billing it as a title decider, but while it will undoubtedly have a bearing on the final table positions, matches are proving difficult to predict as the overall standard continues to rise.
Back in the mix for team selection is German midfielder Melly Leupolz, who has just signed a three-year contract extension at Chelsea after returning from maternity leave.
The 28-year-old has set the template for any of her teammates contemplating taking time out to have children. Club general manager Paul Green said having Leupolz back “will almost be like a new signing”.
She hasn’t featured for the Blues since Christmas more than a year ago.
“I played the first one and a half years, and it feels like I’m not done here,” explained Leupolz, who watched from the stand at the Chelsea v Reading home game, with her two-month-old baby boy in her arms.
Hayes values the tall midfielder’s footballing skills, leadership and brain, and is keen to integrate her back into the side now that Ji So-Yun and Beth England have gone.
The Gunners hope that staging Arsenal v Chelsea at the men’s stadium will boost attendance. The noon kick-off time makes it just possible for home fans to watch the women's match, then shuffle across to Tottenham for the 4.30pm north London derby.
But it hasn’t helped Blues fans as Chelsea’s men face Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge on the same lunchtime.
Arsenal may give debuts to new midfield signings Kathrine Kuhl from Denmark and the Dutch 23-year-old Victoria Pelova.
The newbies compensate for losing the experience of Jordan Nobbs, who has left Arsenal for Aston Villa after 12 years with the north London club, scoring 81 goals in 270 appearances.
While Chelsea currently top the Women’s Super League table, Arsenal have a game in hand and would draw level on points with the Blues if they triumph on Sunday.
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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