by Roberto Revilla (26/9/26)
Above: Renee Slegers giving instructions to her players during their last visit to Stamford Bridge touchline. Photo: Arsenal FC.
Roberto Revilla looks ahead to Arsenal’s trip to Stamford Bridge and why Chelsea’s willingness to attack could present both an opportunity and a considerable risk for Renée Slegers’ side.
Chelsea could offer Arsenal the space they have been searching for
Chelsea away would not normally be the fixture Arsenal would choose after dropping four points from their opening three WSL matches and scoring only twice, but there is an argument that Sunday’s trip to Stamford Bridge could provide exactly the sort of game their attack needs.
Crystal Palace came to the Emirates and were content to concede possession while closing the spaces Arsenal wanted to exploit. Manchester United employed a similarly compact approach a week later and Arsenal again struggled to find a way through.
HB Køge were slightly different in Tuesday’s Champions League meeting. They did not defend in a permanent low block, but they were extremely well organised and Arsenal again dominated possession without creating enough clear opportunities. Twenty-one attempts produced only two shots on target.
Chelsea are unlikely to approach Arsenal in the same way.
Slegers said ahead of the game that she expects two sides who want to “go against each other”, rather than one team sitting off and looking to counter. That could create a very different challenge for Arsenal and perhaps one better suited to the attacking players at her disposal.
Olivia Smith has repeatedly demonstrated her willingness to run directly at defenders. Chloe Kelly is at her most dangerous when she can isolate a full-back and Alessia Russo’s movement becomes considerably more threatening when there is space behind a defensive line rather than ten opposition players between her and goal.
Selina Cerci could also become particularly interesting if the game opens up. Her direct running produced the decisive moment against Køge when she drove into the penalty area and won the stoppage-time penalty converted by Mariona Caldentey.
There may also be a physical element to consider.
Chelsea beat Birmingham City 2-0 last weekend before defeating Austria Wien 1-0 in the Champions League on Wednesday. Sonia Bompastor made only three changes between those matches.
Arsenal, by comparison, made eight changes against Køge on Tuesday. Importantly, their intensity did not disappear late in the game. Slegers was able to introduce Russo, Caldentey, Lisa Baum, Cerci and Smith as the match progressed and Arsenal were still attacking with considerable energy in stoppage time.
That does not establish that Chelsea will tire on Sunday, nor that Køge’s late mistake was caused by fatigue, but the difference in rotation could become relevant if the match remains close heading into its final half-hour. The opportunity also creates the danger
The obvious problem with wanting Chelsea to attack is that the space Arsenal hope to exploit will exist at both ends.
If Emily Fox and Ona Batlle advance from full-back, Arsenal need to protect the areas behind them. If Georgia Stanway or Kyra Cooney-Cross carries possession forward from midfield, the structure behind the ball becomes equally important.
Chelsea have players capable of turning a turnover into an attack extremely quickly. Lauren James, if fit, Alyssa Thompson and Sandy Baltimore are among those who can exploit the space Arsenal leave.
Slegers specifically identified Chelsea’s counter-attacking ability as something Arsenal must prepare for and spoke about maintaining a solid defensive structure behind their attacks.
That brings an element of Arsenal’s season into focus which has perhaps been overlooked amid the discussion about their lack of goals.
They have conceded only once in their opening three WSL matches.
Misa Rodríguez has looked assured in goal, Leah Williamson is fit and increasingly comfortable again, Steph Catley has started the season strongly and Fox goes into Sunday having been rested completely against Køge.
Arsenal’s attacking numbers have raised legitimate questions, but their defensive foundation has been strong. Slegers described defending as something Arsenal pride themselves on and an area of focus ahead of Chelsea.
Slegers has difficult decisions to make
With Slegers reporting a fully fit squad ahead of the final training session, Arsenal have considerable options.
Rodríguez appears likely to return in goal after Anneke Borbe played against Køge. Fox should return at right-back, while Williamson and Catley have strong cases to retain their places. Batlle’s experience and attacking ability make her an obvious option on the left.
Midfield presents the more difficult decision.
Caldentey should start, while Stanway’s ability to play through pressure and contribute box-to-box could be particularly valuable in a fast, physical match.
Then there is Cooney-Cross.
The Australian was named UEFA Player of the Match against Køge after an excellent performance in which she moved possession forward quickly, carried the ball into space and repeatedly attempted to increase Arsenal’s tempo.
Slegers spoke positively about Cooney-Cross afterwards, describing her as physically strong and in a mature, calm and positive place after her time back in Australia.
Kim Little offers another possibility if Slegers wants greater control, while Géraldine Reuteler remains available and is still waiting for her first competitive Arsenal minutes.
A midfield of Stanway, Cooney-Cross and Caldentey would offer an intriguing balance between control, ball progression and creativity, although it would be no surprise if Slegers decides Little’s experience is required at Stamford Bridge.
Russo is the likely centre-forward and this could be a match particularly suited to her movement. Smith should also have a strong claim to start, potentially creating one of the afternoon’s most interesting individual contests if she operates from Arsenal’s left against Lucy Bronze.
Kelly, Caitlin Foord, Baum and Cerci provide several options for the remaining attacking position and, perhaps just as importantly, considerable possibilities from the bench.
That depth could become significant later in the match. Cerci’s directness in particular would be an uncomfortable prospect for tiring defenders if Slegers introduces her in the second half.
Arsenal must recognise the moments
The key for Arsenal may not be creating the same volume of opportunities they produced against Palace or Køge.
Slegers questioned this week whether Arsenal’s recent chances have been sufficiently open and clear, referring not only to the eventual shot but the quality of the pass before it, how players set each other up and whether they remain calm enough to recognise the best option.
Against Chelsea, Arsenal may have fewer opportunities, but those opportunities could be better.
When Smith receives possession with space ahead of her, Arsenal need to find her quickly. When Russo makes a run between defenders, the pass needs to arrive before Chelsea can recover their shape. If Kelly can isolate her full-back, Arsenal should be prepared to use that situation rather than allowing the opposition to reset.
There will also inevitably be periods when Chelsea control the game. Arsenal cannot expect to dominate possession for 90 minutes at Stamford Bridge and they will need to be comfortable defending those spells without abandoning their own attacking ambition.
If they can remain in the contest into the final half-hour, their bench could then become particularly important.
Chelsea played on Wednesday and rotated three players. Arsenal played a day earlier and changed eight. If that difference in workload has an effect, the closing stages are the most likely time for it to become apparent.
Arsenal do not necessarily need to produce a completely different version of themselves on Sunday. Their defensive record is already strong and their squad contains more than enough attacking quality.
What they need is to recognise the moments Chelsea give them and make better, quicker decisions when those moments arrive.
After several matches spent trying to manufacture space against organised defensive opponents, Stamford Bridge could finally provide it.
The challenge is making sure Chelsea do not make better use of theirs.
Roberto Revilla is the founder and host of Arsenal Women: Trailblazers, an independent podcast and website providing in-depth analysis and coverage of Arsenal Women. You can find the podcast and Roberto’s latest Arsenal Women writing at Arsenal Women: Trailblazers.
@ImpetusFootball on Threads, Instagram and TikTok.
