Arsenal vs Chelsea

GOAL! Arsenal 0-1 Chelsea (Yep 2). Sam Kerr scores against Arsenal again!

We want to compete on all fronts and this gives us a chance to build towards the end of the season with a trophy under our belt. If Arsenal are to win their first trophy since 2019, and the first under Jonas Eidevall, who better to do it against? Perisset’s cross from the right wasn’t properly cleared, with Cuthbert efficiently collecting the loose ball and and finding Reiten on the other side of the area. Maanum still got away a shot of sorts, which ricocheted off Eriksson and into the path of Blacksteinus, unmarked 12 yards out. She ran to within 25 yards of goal and was about to shoot when Kerr challenged her from behind. 23 min McCabe slips Ingle just inside the area and goes over, and Arsenal have a penalty! Blackstenius was fouled by Eriksson near the halfway line, and Little took the free-kick instantly to release Maanum. Maanum’s clever header releases McCabe, who is just beaten to the bouncing ball on the edge of the area by Berger. They both go down, with McCabe holding her head, but it looked like a really good – and brave – bit of goalkeeping. McCabe kicked Berger in the chest and, though she was going for the ball, you can understand why a yellow card was dhown. Stina Blackstenius equalised after a quickly taken free-kick, a symbol of Arsenal’s tempo in the first half, and then Kim Little scored emphatically from the spot after Katie McCabe tricked Sophie Ingle into a loose challenge. Then she curls a terrific cross to the far post, where Kerr heads wide under pressure from Catley.

The women's League Cup is being held at a sold out Selhurst Park between the two London sides who are both looking for a big win.

Chelsea win a free-kick just outside the area. Chelsea certainly need to heed these warnings... Some pretty play from Arsenal in the final few minutes ultimately led to nothing, and as Chelsea break forward, James wins a free kick but Cuthbert's long ball forward also comes to nothing. Some good play from Chelsea sees Reiten latch onto a long ball on the left flank (again) but her cross is over hit. Arsenal have had their fun with corners today, so there's little surprise that they win another one just as injury time looks to be wrapping up, this time through Martiz. Arsenal go into the interval two goals ahead and Chelsea have a whole lotta work to do in the second half. The Chelsea boss clearly wasn’t happy with what she was watching, evidenced by the introduction of Kadeisha Buchanan after just 40 minutes. Kerr squares it to Lauren James who is running into the area but her strikes sails just over the bar. What little threat Chelsea were offering some minutes ago feels like a distant memory. A corner is offered, in what can only be meagre recompence for a poor call from the officials. Chelsea have some half-chances through Lauren James, Cuthbert and Kerr but Kerr's header is wayward and Cuthbert is constantly flouted by some stubborn and dogged defending from Rafaelle. Another yellow card born out of frustration for Chelsea, this one soundtracked without err to the triumphant glee of the chanting Arsenal fans.

Arsenal take on Chelsea in the Women's League Cup, with this being the first opportunity for both sides to get their hands on silverware ahead of a tight ...

Arsenal will have to keep her quiet if they are to hold the [League Cup](https://www.vavel.com/en/football/2023/02/04/womens-football/1136743-liverpool-vs-reading-womens-super-league-preview-gameweek-13-2023.html) aloft at [Selhurst Park.](https://www.vavel.com/en/football/2023/02/26/premier-league/1138909-four-things-we-learnt-from-crystal-palaces-draw-with-liverpool.html) [Fran Kirby](https://www.vavel.com/en/football/2023/01/17/womens-football/1134915-reading-vs-manchester-united-womens-super-league-preview-gameweek-12-2023.html) and [Pernille Harder](https://www.vavel.com/en/football/2021/04/20/womens-football/1068156-manchester-city-vs-chelsea-womens-super-league-preview-team-news-predicted-lineups-ones-to-watch-previous-meetings-and-how-to-watch.html) remain sidelined. [Vivianne Miedema](https://www.vavel.com/en/football/2021/09/26/womens-football/1087254-arsenal-vs-manchester-city-womens-super-league-preview-team-news-predicted-line-ups-ones-to-watch-and-how-to-watch.html) and Teyah Goldie remain sidelined with long-term injuries. Since the inception of the competition, Arsenal has participated in eight of the 11 [League Cup](https://www.vavel.com/en/football/2023/03/04/womens-football/1139519-brian-sorensen-says-united-draw-gave-everton-confidence.html) finals making this season their ninth. [West Ham](https://www.vavel.com/en/football/2023/03/04/womens-football/1139588-reading-vs-west-ham-united-womens-super-league-preview-gameweek-14-2023.html) and [Tottenham](https://www.vavel.com/en/football/2023/02/24/womens-football/1138655-tottenham-vs-reading-womens-fa-cup-preview-fifth-round-2023.html). [Emma Hayes](https://www.vavel.com/en/football/2023/01/21/womens-football/1135314-chelsea-vs-liverpool-womens-super-league-preview-gameweek-12-2023.html) has the delight of having the same roster to choose from after confirming that everyone who played in the FA Cup victory over Arsenal will be available to take on the [North London](https://www.vavel.com/en/football/2023/01/05/womens-football/1133587-aston-villa-sign-england-international-jordan-nobbs-on-a-permanent-deal.html) side this weekend. Both London clubs will have one eye on the league, with Chelsea and Arsenal sitting 2nd and 4th respectively. [West Ham](https://www.vavel.com/en/football/2023/03/04/womens-football/1139588-reading-vs-west-ham-united-womens-super-league-preview-gameweek-14-2023.html) in the semi-final. The Gunners have not beaten Chelsea since September 2021. [Beth Mead](https://www.vavel.com/en/football/2023/01/21/womens-football/1135433-brighton-vs-arsenalwomens-super-league-preview-gameweek-12-2023.html) is continuing her recovery from her ACL injury, as she ramped up her progress in the gym but will not be available to take on Chelsea. [Caitlin Foord](https://www.vavel.com/en/football/2021/03/27/womens-football/1065142-arsenal-win-the-north-london-derby-once-more.html) with eight assists. [Chelsea](https://www.vavel.com/en/football/2023/02/19/womens-football/1138239-england-v-italyarnold-clark-cup-preview-2023.html) takes on [Arsenal](https://www.vavel.com/en/football/2023/02/12/womens-football/1137551-brighton-women-2-6-aston-villa-villans-destory-seagulls-in-eight-goal-thriller.html) in the Women’s [League Cup](https://www.vavel.com/en/football/2023/03/04/womens-football/1139519-brian-sorensen-says-united-draw-gave-everton-confidence.html) final, with both heavyweights looking to add sparkling silverware to their season alongside sustaining a title challenge.

For today's Continental Tyres League Cup final, Emma Hayes names an unchanged side from the one that started the FA Cup victory over Arsenal a week ago.

[Eve Perisset](/en/teams/profile/eve-perisset) and [Niamh Charles](/en/teams/profile/niamh-charles) continue as full-backs while [Sophie Ingle](/en/teams/profile/sophie-ingle), a scorer against the Gunners last Sunday, will anchor the midfield. [Sam Kerr](/en/teams/profile/sam-kerr), the other scorer in the last game, will lead the attack. [Lauren James](/en/teams/profile/lauren-james-19) and [Guro Reiten](/en/teams/profile/guro-reiten) are expected to provide the attacking width with [Jelena Cankovic](/en/teams/profile/jelena-cankovic) and [Erin Cuthbert](/en/teams/profile/erin-cuthbert) in central roles.

Watch BBC One coverage & follow text updates as Arsenal face Chelsea in the 2023 Women's League Cup Final at Selhurst Park.

It has been a long time for Arsenal and winners want to lift silverware. We've talked a lot about Lauren James but today it just didn't happen for her. The difference was between a team that has won a lot and a team that hasn't. Arsenal showed hunger in everything they did and really went after it. "It was a really tough start but the way we came back showed what we are made of. We wanted to play at pace and put pressure on. Arsenal forward Caitlin Foord speaking to BBC: "It's incredible to finally win a trophy with this club - it's something special. "It's been four years since we won a trophy and it's well overdue. It's more a psychological thing than anything else and I tried to stay as calm as possible. Today, we showed it against a Chelsea team that has been so dominant. "We have got some young players, older players too and we're trying to bring that consistency. To be down 1-0 made it tougher but after that, we played really well and deserved our victory.