Alessia Russo Earns Draw With Chelsea But Arsenal Rue Controversial Calls

The boos rang retired astatine nan Emirates Stadium arsenic nan officials exited nan transportation astatine nan last whistle, nan consequence of 2 disallowed Arsenal goals – 1 for handball and 1 for offside – nan 2nd of which would surely person turned a 1-1 tie into a 2-1 location triumph if it had stood. Alessia Russo’s precocious equaliser did astatine slightest support live nan Gunners’ slim hopes of remaining successful nan title race, nan spread betwixt them and Chelsea, nan convention leaders, remaining astatine 5 points.

Renée Slegers had warned that her squad would “have to beryllium fresh from nan get go” against defending Women’s Super League champions, but nan connection had not stuck. It was Chelsea that stepped connected to nan transportation pinch an almost unplayable strength coursing done them and nan Gunners couldn’t cope. The Chelsea property was exceptional, pinch nan players alert to each move, heads up, fresh to stifle nan location broadside from stringing passes together complete and complete again.

That they took nan lead was unsurprising and deserved. Thompson was magic and nan decorativeness was sublime. The US international, who returned to nan starting XI pinch Aggie Beever-Jones rested arsenic a precaution pursuing nan apical scorer’s dormant limb successful England’s crippled against Australia, shifted crossed nan apical of nan container from near to correct and played a one-two pinch Johanna Rytting Kaneryd earlier sweeping nan shot into nan acold corner.

Sonia Bompastor’s broadside should person been 2 up soon after: Lucy Bronze near Katie McCabe successful her aftermath arsenic she raced down nan correct earlier uncovering Catarina Macario, who forced a prevention from Daphne van Domselaar. The shot clipped backmost disconnected nan barroom but nan keeper was adjacent to Wieke Kaptein’s follow-up effort.

Arsenal played without a earthy 6, pinch Mariona Caldentey and Victoria Pelova sitting down Alessia Russo successful nan No 10 position and Stina Blackstenius successful up of her, and they looked susceptible astatine nan back. There were issues further guardant too, pinch determination making successful nan last 3rd mediocre arsenic they started to spot much of nan ball. Hannah Hampton’s life successful nan Chelsea extremity was made easy because of it.

The location broadside maintained their freshly recovered power aft nan break and successful nan 53rd infinitesimal believed they had equalised, arsenic did everyone else, TV screens and liveblogs still displaying nan people astatine 1-1 agelong aft nan determination had been made to norm nan extremity out. The determination was an overseas one, Blackstenius alleged to person handled nan shot erstwhile she brought it down earlier she fired into nan tile of nan nett aft some Niamh Charles and Bright grounded to link pinch Beth Mead’s corner. Replay aft replay, though, was inconclusive, nan shot looking much for illustration it came disconnected her thigh aliases mediate and pinch nary video adjunct referees successful nan WSL to intervene nan referee’s determination stood, overmuch to nan fury of nan crowd and Slegers.

Chelsea would conflict that nan area should person been awarded successful nan first spot but nan perceived injustice against Arsenal lit a occurrence successful nan stands, nan referee’s decisions were jeered, nan roars for each affirmative play were large and location was a festering hostility that conscionable did not lift. The players responded and Olivia Smith entered nan fray arsenic they pushed for nan equaliser.

As clip ticked distant and effort aft effort stung nan hands of Hampton dream was dwindling, but pinch 3 minutes remaining they yet recovered nan equaliser, nan substitute Frida Maanum’s angled walk uncovering Russo, who fired in. The England guardant was perchance marginally offside, though without lines drawn connected nan perspective of replays made it difficult to tell.

Slegers’ broadside were denied a desperately needed victor soon after, this clip nan emblem went up, Maanum adjudged to person been offside arsenic she raced connected to Russo’s done shot and lifted it complete Hampton and in.

The spoils were shared, Arsenal are down but not wholly out. The attraction now will beryllium connected nan officiating.