Chelsea beat Arsenal to win FA Cup & complete 2020-21 domestic treble

Chelsea beat Arsenal to win FA Cup & complete 2020-21 domestic treble
_121977293_gettyimages-1357300025.jpgChelsea won the WSL title and the League Cup last season before securing the FA Cup at Wembley

Chelsea saw off Arsenal in a dominant display in the delayed final to last season's FA Cup to win their first domestic treble.

Emma Hayes' side, who also won the Women's Super League title and League Cup last season, were deserved winners in front of 40,942 fans at Wembley on the 50th anniversary of the competition.

England international Fran Kirby put down an early marker, capitalising on a mistake at the back to net within three minutes, and Sam Kerr scored a brace in the second half to seal Chelsea's victory.

Chelsea were utterly dominant - Sam Kerr and Kirby both hit the woodwork on three occasions, while Arsenal goalkeeper Manuela Zinsberger made numerous saves, particularly in the first half.

The Blues were frustrated not to be further ahead at the break but they made sure of victory shortly afterwards when Kerr teased defender Lotte Wubben-Moy before sliding it into the bottom corner in the 57th minute.

The Australian international, who had lifted it on to the crossbar in the first half, then made it 3-0 with an audacious chip and celebrated just as coolly, flapping her hand to signal how hot it was before sticking her tongue out playfully to the crowd.

Arsenal - the record 14-time winners of the FA Cup - were second-best throughout and despite a slight improvement in the second half, produced a performance which was a far cry from their domestic form this season.

The victory was Chelsea's third in an FA Cup final and all three of their titles have come under Hayes' guidance.

Chelsea's Kerr too hot to handle

Chelsea's defeat to Arsenal at the Emirates in their opening WSL game of the season remains their only loss and they were clearly keen to make amends at Wembley.

From the first minute they pressed with intensity and Kerr's runs in behind immediately caused problems for Arsenal's back four.

Kirby silenced the Arsenal fans in the crowd within three minutes when she pounced on a mix-up and raced through on goal to fire in the opener.

She ran to the corner with her arms outstretched, sending Chelsea fans into a frenzy, and Arsenal never really recovered.

By the time Arsenal won their first corner in the 15th minute, Kerr had been denied in a one-on-one and a last-ditch interception from Jennifer Beattie had prevented Kirby from sliding in a second.

Zinsberger's heroics kept Arsenal within reach at the break despite Kerr and Kirby both hitting the woodwork but Chelsea came out firing again in the second half, with Kerr eventually getting her reward.

Her second goal was stunning - even Kerr herself thought so judging by her celebration - and she was deservedly given a standing ovation when substituted late-on.

With the two sides going head-to-head for this season's WSL title as well, Chelsea's dominant victory was a humbling reminder to Arsenal of what it will take to steal the crown from them.

But they will enjoy this victory first. Hayes was the first to collect her medal before staff ran across to spray champagne over the players as they lifted the trophy.

In typical fashion, Kerr draped herself in the remains of the silver confetti before players posed for pictures with the trophy and fans waved flags behind the goal.

Stunned Arsenal comfortably beaten

_121977297_gettyimages-1357302681.jpgArsenal have won a record 14 Women's FA Cups, while this was Chelsea's third title

It was the worst possible start for Arsenal.

Kirby's early goal stunned Wembley and the Arsenal players, who gave the ball away on countless occasions in the first half.

The defence was run ragged by Kerr, Kirby and Erin Cuthbert in particular and, were it not for several big saves from Zinsberger, Arsenal could have been 5-0 down at half-time.

Goalkeeper Zinsberger could not hide her frustrations - smacking the post in anger and screaming at her team-mates after tipping Kirby's effort on to the post following a cut-back from Kerr.

And manager Jonas Eidevall was agitated on the touchline, often pacing from side-to-side and speaking frantically with his coaching staff. At one point he even held up notes to his attacking players and applauded them for responding with a successful high-press.

The absence of Leah Williamson at the back was evident and while in-form forward Beth Mead dazzled the crowd in bursts, she could not carry her team over the line.

In the end, Arsenal were lucky to go in at the break only one goal down but it felt like it would be only a matter of time before Chelsea began putting their chances away.

Kerr did just that, wounding Arsenal after the break and the Gunners never responded. The league leaders will have to pick themselves up quickly as there is a WSL title to be won, with Chelsea once again standing in their way.

Player of the match

KirbyFran Kirby

Arsenal Women

Squad number1Player nameZinsberger

Squad number9Player nameMead

Squad number11Player nameMiedema

Squad number10Player nameLittle

Squad number15Player nameMcCabe

Squad number16Player nameMaritz

Squad number7Player nameCatley

Squad number13Player nameWälti

Squad number5Player nameBeattie

Squad number12Player nameMaanum

Squad number3Player nameWubben-Moy

Squad number23Player nameIwabuchi

Squad number19Player nameFoord

Squad number20Player nameBoye Sørensen

Squad number14Player nameParris

Chelsea Women

Squad number14Player nameKirby

Squad number20Player nameKerr

Squad number22Player nameCuthbert

Squad number8Player nameLeupolz

Squad number16Player nameEriksson

Squad number7Player nameCarter

Squad number11Player nameReiten

Squad number5Player nameIngle

Squad number17Player nameFleming

Squad number4Player nameBright

Squad number23Player nameHarder

Squad number30Player nameBerger

Squad number24Player nameSpence

Squad number9Player nameEngland

Squad number3Player nameNouwen

Squad number10Player nameJi So-Yun

Line-ups

Arsenal Women

Formation 4-2-3-1

1Zinsberger

16Maritz3Wubben-Moy5Beattie7Catley

13Wälti12Maanum

9Mead10Little15McCabe

11Miedema

1Zinsberger16Maritz3Wubben-MoySubstituted forBoye Sørensenat 87'minutes5BeattieSubstituted forFoordat 70'minutes7Catley13WältiSubstituted forIwabuchiat 61'minutes12MaanumSubstituted forParrisat 80'minutesBooked at 81mins9MeadBooked at 7mins10Little15McCabeBooked at 65mins11Miedema

Substitutes

4Patten8Nobbs14Parris18Williams19Foord20Boye Sørensen22Schnaderbeck23Iwabuchi29Goldie

Chelsea Women

Formation 3-4-3

30Berger

4Bright7Carter16Eriksson

22Cuthbert5Ingle8Leupolz11Reiten

17Fleming20Kerr14Kirby

30Berger4Bright7Carter16Eriksson22CuthbertBooked at 44mins5IngleSubstituted forNouwenat 90+4'minutes8LeupolzSubstituted forJiat 86'minutes11ReitenSubstituted forSpenceat 87'minutes17Fleming20KerrSubstituted forEnglandat 86'minutes14KirbySubstituted forHarderat 74'minutes

Substitutes

1Musovic3Nouwen9England10Ji21Charles23Harder24Spence25Andersson29FoxReferee:Helen ConleyAttendance:40,942

Live Text

Match ends, Arsenal Women 0, Chelsea Women 3.

Second Half ends, Arsenal Women 0, Chelsea Women 3.

Substitution, Chelsea Women. Aniek Nouwen replaces Sophie Ingle.

Corner, Arsenal Women. Conceded by Jessica Carter.

Foul by Katie McCabe (Arsenal Women).

Drew Spence (Chelsea Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Substitution, Arsenal Women. Simone Boye Sørensen replaces Lotte Wubben-Moy.

Substitution, Chelsea Women. Drew Spence replaces Guro Reiten.

Substitution, Chelsea Women. Ji So-Yun replaces Melanie Leupolz.

Substitution, Chelsea Women. Bethany England replaces Sam Kerr.

Attempt missed. Vivianne Miedema (Arsenal Women) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Katie McCabe with a cross.

Offside, Chelsea Women. Sophie Ingle tries a through ball, but Sam Kerr is caught offside.

Attempt missed. Jessie Fleming (Chelsea Women) left footed shot from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Pernille Harder with a cross.

Nikita Parris (Arsenal Women) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Foul by Nikita Parris (Arsenal Women).

Guro Reiten (Chelsea Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Substitution, Arsenal Women. Nikita Parris replaces Frida Maanum.

Attempt blocked. Katie McCabe (Arsenal Women) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.

Corner, Arsenal Women. Conceded by Ann-Katrin Berger.

Attempt blocked. Beth Mead (Arsenal Women) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Kim Little.

Source Link