Slegers’ unbeaten Arsenal run ends with defeat at Chelsea | OneFootball

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Arsenal Women’s unbeaten run under Renee Slegers ended in a controversial 1-0 defeat to Chelsea, with Guro Reiten’s late penalty and Katie McCabe’s red card stealing headlines.

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Renee Slegers saw her unbeaten run as Arsenal Women manager come to an end with a 1-0 loss to Chelsea, courtesy of a late penalty converted by Guro Reiten after a foul by Kim Little on Lauren James.

The drama didn’t end there, as Katie McCabe was shown a direct red card for using offensive, insulting, or abusive language. McCabe will now serve a two-game suspension, ruling her out of the upcoming Bristol City cup match and the crucial league game against Manchester City.

The defeat leaves Chelsea 10 points clear of Arsenal, who trail in fourth place. Manchester United sit in second, seven points behind the league leaders, while Manchester City are nine points off the pace in third.

Arsenal’s performance was solid against a strong Chelsea side, and a 0-0 draw would arguably have been a fair result, with both teams creating chances. However, controversy arose when Kim Little was adjudged to have fouled Lauren James in the penalty area.

Replays showed contact, although it also appeared that Little may have touched the ball. Adding to the frustration, Arsenal were denied what looked like a clear penalty for a foul on Kathrine Kühl, raising questions about the consistency of refereeing decisions.

The match also highlighted a persistent issue in the Women’s Super League: the lack of yellow cards. At least four or five instances warranted bookings, but none were given. The failure to apply Law 12 properly—by issuing yellow cards—remains a problem in the WSL, where referees tend to be overly lenient.

As is well known, players on yellow cards have to adjust their approach, which can improve the flow of the game.

McCabe’s red card was a costly blow. With six minutes plus added time remaining, Arsenal still had a chance to equalise, and Slegers had a substitution left to bring on fresh legs. But playing with 10 players against Chelsea proved insurmountable.

Beyond the immediate impact of her suspension, McCabe’s outburst may have long-term consequences. They were already looking out for her and this will only worsen her reputation with referees. While the suspension will offer McCabe a rare breather after starting every match this season, it’s a short-term loss and a potential long-term headache for Arsenal.

With the transfer window closing in three days, questions arise about whether Arsenal will bring in reinforcements. With several youngsters out on loan, the club has room to register three players for the WSL squad and two for the Champions League roster. Victoria Pelova, already part of the Champions League squad, could be added to the WSL list, but Arsenal could also recruit new talent.

A left-back, a winger, or a central midfielder might be on the shopping list, especially with a busy summer transfer window on the horizon. Chelsea are clear favourites to retain the league title, and the race for Champions League qualification will be fiercely contested. Balancing four competitions puts a significant strain on the squad, where even minor injuries or suspensions could disrupt momentum.

On a more positive note, that game was my 500th Arsenal Women game over 20 years. I have seen games in 12 different countries on three different continents and it has been a fun ride so far, seeing how the team’s support grew from 20 fans to now selling out the Emirates Stadium.