SOCK IT TO ME. London’s biggest derby – Arsenal v Chelsea – in six matches.
Then peace in our time broke out (relatively) between new bosses Sonia Bompastor and Renée Slegers last season, going into this one. And you couldn’t put a cigarette paper between the teams in their most recent WSL game.
Izzy Gilligan and Helen M Jerome tell the story of this ongoing rivalry by jumping around the various, tasty match-ups at the Emirates, the Bridge and in a couple of cup finals. Warning: may contain hashtags.
First though, we spoke to Chelsea’s midfield dynamo, Erin Cuthbert (above) about the latest bout:
“Yeah, I’m really looking forward to it. That’s one in the calendar that you definitely put a big circle around.
It’s going to be a good one; it’s always a big one for the fans and the rivalry. I want to keep that in the game, but at the end of the day, it’s just three points.
I’ve got to remind myself of that when I start to get too far ahead that it is three points. But we are chasing the title, so it’s an important game for us.
It’s always exciting to see you and your fellow Scot Kim Little (above, right) in midfield.
Yeah, we always have a good battle.
We hate each other on the pitch, and we love each other after.
That’s how it goes!
#VARWHATISITGOODFOR?
WSL 8 November 2025, Emirates Stadium Arsenal 1 Chelsea 1
The narrative after this hard-fought draw was all about the need for VAR. Arsenal had two perfectly good goals ruled out by the officials – the first when Stina Blackstenius controlled the ball on her midriff and was adjudged to have handled it, and the second when Frida Maanum was level with the last Chelsea defender, but flagged offside.
Renée Slegers was once again adamant that VAR should be used in the WSL with “more and more at stake” – as it already is in the Champions League – and Sonia Bompastor didn’t disagree.
Mind you, Chelsea were all over the Gunners in the first half, yet only led by one exquisite goal, lofted over Daphne van Domselaar by Alyssa Thompson (above, right).
Something changed in the second half. Arsenal regrouped and in between their two disallowed goals, with just minutes to go, Alessia Russo equalised – and ironically this volleyed strike stood, when it could have been ruled out for an offside.
Fine margins. Honours even in N5. Both sides aggrieved. A draw about right.
#SOCKGATE
WSL 15 March 2024, Stamford Bridge Chelsea 3 Arsenal 1
Sitting near the Arsenal away fans, we watched the Gunners warm up in their customary kit, including gleaming white socks with red flash. When they disappeared down the tunnel we expected both teams’ imminent return.
As the minutes ticked by, the stadium DJ had the night of their life, pulling out banger after banger. You had to be there!
Half an hour later – a full hour after they started the warm-up – Chelsea came out with white socks, and Arsenal emerged now wearing dark blue socks with gaffer tape masking the fact that these were, in fact, Chelsea socks, bought in the Chelsea megastore.
In hindsight, apart from the kitman’s blunder, you could argue that Arsenal’s boss Eidevall also botched his team selection, leaving both Alessia Russo and Frida Maanum on the bench.
LJ and JRK were on fire. Nüsken “accidentally” scored twice, one off her rear end. When Arsenal’s skipper got one back minutes from full time, you could only agree with the commentators who quipped: too Little too late!
#COMEBACK
Conti Cup Final 5 March 2023, Selhurst Park Arsenal 3 Chelsea 1
When Sam Kerr scored past Manu Zinsberger after just two minutes, you could feel the Gooners –and even the neutrals – at Selhurst Park let out a collective sigh. This could be over before it began.
But in one of those classic never-write-them-off turnarounds, after a few more minutes of pressure, the resolute Arsenal team rolled up their sleeves and collectively found another gear. Depleted in an attritional season where players like Viv Miedema and Beth Mead were going down with ACLs, they got their mojo on.
Inevitably, it was Stina Blackstenius who got a poacher’s goal to level (above, centre). Free kicks and corners a-plenty were blocked, saved and overhit. Then Sophie Ingle brought down Katie McCabe in the box and Captain Fantastic, Kim Little, buried the penalty past Ann-Katrin Berger to make it 2-1.
And just as everyone was poised to rush out at halftime to get their Bovril and wagon wheels, Berger flapped at a cross as Rafaelle and Niamh Charles contested a header, and the ball looped into the goal to give the North Londoners a solid and well-deserved 3-1 lead.
The rip-roaring first half led to a rip-roaring second, yet neither side made another breakthrough. But for Jonas Eidevall it was his long-awaited first trophy as Arsenal boss and a statement of intent. Joy was unconfined.
#JONASOUT
WSL 12 October 2024, Emirates Stadium Arsenal 1 Chelsea 2
After a poor start to their 2024-25 campaign, the writing was on the wall for Jonas Eidevall (literally, as someone had graffitied “JONAS OUT” on the wall outside the stadium).
His last dance came against the unbeaten Chelsea and their shiny new boss Sonia Bompastor, arriving from France’s equally dominant club, Lyon. Arsenal fans filled the Emirates’, knowing that a loss would likely see the Swede’s departure.
Two defensive errors from the Gunners saw Chelsea 2-0 up before the break after Mayra Ramirez’s overhead kick and new signing Sandy Baltimore’s header (above, left) found the back of the net.
Caitlin Foord pulled one back for the home side, but it was not enough.
As Bompastor’s unbeaten reign rolled on, the performance was deemed not good enough for Arsenal’s standards and Eidevall packed his bags.
At Arsenal the king was dead. But the Renée-ssance was just beginning…
#SHOVEOFF
Conti Cup Final 31 March 2024, Molineux Arsenal 1 Chelsea 0 (after extra time)
The Conti Cup. One of women’s football’s favourite competitions due to its dramatic storylines and on and off pitch rivalries.
An Easter Sunday final in Wolverhampton saw Arsenal and Chelsea meet once more, a familiar matchup between the WSL’s two most dominant sides, but an even juicier meeting between bitter rivals Jonas Eidevall and Emma Hayes.
The Gunners were destined for the win after Frida Maanum collapsed in the 96th minute (above, right), scaring fans and players alike. And they won it 1-0 after Stina Blackstenius scored a last-minute winner (how many times have we said that?), an act of solidarity for her fallen best friend.
Many will also remember what happened after the final whistle, however. Hayes was seen on camera shoving Eidevall out of the way instead of shaking his hand, and the two looked to have had a proper disagreement.
It was later revealed that it was a tussle over a multi-ball system (managers, eh!), but fans enjoyed the duel, and it was a fitting final contest between the two.
#KATIEMcCARD
WSL 26 January 2025, Stamford Bridge Chelsea 1 Arsenal 0
As if the crunch match between unbeaten Chelsea and resurgent Arsenal needed any more hype, this was Renée Slegers’ first clash with Sonia Bompastor as head coach, soon after getting the job full-time. Both very different in personality and style, but each with enormous respect for the other.
Chelsea flexed their muscles pre-match with the red carpet unveiling of Naomi Girma as their latest signing, breaking the world transfer record.
If truth be told, though, this was all about the electric Lauren James. And Katie McCabe.
The match was still poised at 0-0 as the second half progressed. The rain was hammering down, the pitch slick and emotions running high. When the fourth official held up the board to signal that James was entering the fray, the excitement and dread for the respective sets of fans instantly ramped up.
LJ ran the Arsenal defence ragged, dropping the shoulder, swooping and always looking to shoot. When Kim Little tackled her in the box – did she or didn’t she nick the ball – referee Emily Heaslip immediately awarded a penalty.
McCabe raged at the effing reffing decision and was eventually shown a red (protagonists, above right). Guro Reiten converted with minutes left. Game over. Probably league over. Slegers called for VAR in the WSL. Lots of learnings, as they say.
