EMMA HAYES dismissed Arsenal’s equipment conflict error as “an earnest mistake” after Chelsea dispatched the Gunners.
Lauren James and Sjoeke Nusken shone because the Blues beat their title rivals 3-1 following a 30-minute kick-off delay.
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All initially gave the impression to be going easily within the build-up to the Friday night time duel with a crowd of 32,970 watching Hayes’ final WSL match at Stamford Bridge.
However the recreation was unexpectedly disrupted as a consequence of a equipment conflict with either side sporting related colored socks.
Earlier than kick-off Arsenal gamers donned the white and purple socks worn with their dwelling equipment
And so they could possibly be seen in them throughout warm-up forward of the scheduled 7:00pm begin of the match.
However three minutes earlier than the conflict started, the guests had been instructed they weren’t permitted to put on them.
This was as a consequence of conflict in color with the socks worn by their hosts.
The situation noticed the Gunners having to purchase Chelsea’s blue and black away ones from the membership’s retailer.
However the North London giants needed to cowl the over the Nike brand on the socks due with gray tape because of the membership being sponsored by Adidas.
The garment conflict prompted a bemused response amongst some observers with former Chelsea ace Karen Carney describing the situation as “embarrassing”.
Nevertheless Hayes insisted it was an “earnest mistake” and hopes Arsenal’s kitman gained’t be thrown beneath the bus.
The Blues chief mentioned: “Due to who I’m, I’m not going to throw the equipment man beneath the bus. He will likely be feeling horrible this night.
“It’s a mistake made regardless, he’s a brand new man into the place. It occurred.
“If we’d have had blue socks, and if this was an away recreation, we’d have had white and blue.
“However as a result of it was a house recreation we knew three weeks prematurely we’d be sporting white socks, we’re the house crew.
“However as a result of we didn’t have blue, I couldn’t simply say don’t fear about it, we’ll put the blue socks on as a result of we didn’t have them.
“We’re additionally in a day and age – and God is aware of why, – they reduce every part out. There’s an entire course of inside all of that.
“It’s an earnest mistake. I’m definitely not going to pile in on him.”
The hosts took simply thirty-two minutes to race to a 3-0 benefit with the outcome giving them a six-point lead over the Gunners within the league.
Arsenal discovered themselves overwhelmed at instances with James, Nusken and Johanna Rytting Kaneryd combining effectively.
On the Gunners donning Chelsea socks, Hayes added: “I used to be delighted to see lion crests on Arsenal’s legs within the first half.
“Perhaps that gave my gamers motivation, I have no idea.”
Forward of the sport Hayes spoke of demanding a “Chelsea normal” efficiency from her facet
And that’s exactly what she acquired with the crew going 3-0 up in 32 minutes.
Lauren James opened the scoring with thirteenth objective in 14 top-flight video games this time period.
The ahead ran onto Nusken’s move wrongfooting her markers to fireside over goalkeeper Manuela Zinsberger within the fifteenth minute.
The guests’ powerful begin acquired worse with Nusken slotting the ball past the Arsenal shot-stopper simply six minutes later.
And the Gunners had been caught out once more with Rytting Kaneryd pouncing on the ball following Leah Williamson’s free-kick, earlier than making a robust run to the field.
And her effort was deflected dwelling off Nusken.
The second half noticed Alessia Russo, Frida Maanum and Emily Fox launched rather than Steph Catley, Victoria Pelova and Stina Blackstenius.
That they had a free-kick that was fired at Hannah Hampton with 29 minutes of regular time minute shortly earlier than James pressured a formidable save from Zinsberger.
The guests nabbed a late comfort by way of with Kim Little’s strike deflected in off Catarina Macario.
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However the WSL leaders held out to seal the win denting Arsenal’s title hopes.
Gunners boss Jonas Eidevall mentioned: “We must be unhappy with the way in which we carried out as a crew as a result of that is not our ranges.
“I must take accountability for that, we have to be taught from that and we have to go subsequent week.”
