Hayes says Chelsea title will be her sweetest yet
THERE were muted celebrations as the full-time whistle went at Kingsmeadow. Chelsea knew their victory against Arsenal was one of the last hurdles in this long and testing title race, but there was also an air of sadness.
This was the final home game for captain Magdalena Eriksson and forward Pernille Harder. It was announced earlier in the week that the pair would depart this summer. It was particularly emotional for Eriksson, who signed for the club in 2017 and became captain two years later.
It was fitting, then, that she scored the decisive goal just before half-time after Guro Reiten had given Chelsea the lead. It was the perfect send-off.
Chelsea looked like being crowned champions last night but Manchester United’s dramatic late 2-1 victory over rivals City means Eriksson and her team-mates will have to wait until Saturday to finish the job. It feels inevitable they will do so at bottom-of-thetable Reading, but Eriksson and her boss Emma Hayes will not take anything for granted. ‘It’s mixed feelings, really happy we won but really sad we’re losing two amazing people,’ said Hayes.
‘Everybody wanted that fairytale for her (Eriksson). She has been our captain and leader. I know the work that has gone on behind the scenes to get the team to where it is. I just looked on to the pitch and all I see is the years of work in the background.
‘For me if we win the title, this will hands down be my favourite.’
It appeared Arsenal’s injury crisis had finally caught up with them. Their defending for both goals was shoddy — a result of tired bodies and minds after what has been a testing campaign.
‘You see that with Chelsea here, they have been able to use their squad in a very, very good way,’ said Arsenal boss Jonas Eidevall. ‘That is something we need to improve next season.’
Chelsea dominated the opening stages and the breakthrough came midway through the first half. Eve Perisset’s cross went all the way to the back post, where an unmarked Reiten slid in to finish past Manuela Zinsberger.
Arsenal continued to struggle and the decisive moment came just before the break when Eriksson doubled Chelsea’s lead. Reiten floated a free-kick into the box and
Sam Ker r evaded Lotte
Wubben- Moy to head across goal for
Eriksson to tap in.
Harder was twice denied a farewell goal at the start of the second half, when Zinsberger kept out her fierce effort at the near post before Katie McCabe cleared her header off the line.
A route back into the game presented itself for Arsenal when Sophie Ingle blocked McCabe’s shot with her hand, leaving referee Abigail Byrne no choice but to point to the penalty spot. McCabe fired her effort wide. That
miss perhaps summed up Arsenal’s season. Close, but not close enough.
A fourth consecutive title is within touching distance for Chelsea.
They are champions in waiting.
CHELSEA (4-3-3): Berger 7; Perisset 7 (Buchanan 84), Mjelde 7, Eriksson 7.5, Charles 7; Ingle 7, CUTHBERT 8, Harder 7 (Fleming 73, 6); James 7 (Carter 63, 6), Kerr 7, Reiten 7.5.
Scorers: Reiten 22, Eriksson 41. Manager: Emma Hayes 8.
Attendance: 3,456.
ARSENAL (3-4-3): Zinsberger 6; Beattie 6 (Queiroz Costa 88), Rafaelle 6, Wubben-Moy 5; Maritz 5 (Hurtig 80), Maanum 6.5, Pelova 6, McCabe 5; Kuhl 6 (Catley 46, 6), Blackstenius 6 (Taylor 74, 6), Foord 6. Booked: McCabe, Wubben-Moy.
Manager: Jonas Eidevall 6
Referee: Abigail Byrne 7.