Key events
24 mins: Arsenal reach the edge of the Chelsea box but momentum stops there and the attack breaks down after a weak Caldentey shot.
22 mins: James is being allowed to roam all over the pitch, she’s been everywhere from right-back to left-wing already. I think Bompastor is offering her the freedom because she knows the damage she can do.
Smith drives into the box and Nuskens slides in, performing the perfect tackle to only give away a corner. If she gets it even slightly wrong, it’s a penalty.
20 mins: Nusken looks to bundle her way through the Arsenal defence but she is held up 18 yards from goal.
Arsenal look to break but Bronze is there to tidy up, only to send a rather ropey backpass to Hampton who deals with the bobbling ball well.
18 mins: Cuthbert is looking for James on the right and the Scot sends a pass to the wing but the England international is on her heels and watches it go out for a throw.
16 mins: Arsenal are getting into this game. Little cleanly hits the ball but sees it blocked. They have successfully silenced the crowd and are now looking to get on top.
Foord breezes past Carpenter on the wing and gets into the box but her shot is a weak one.
Down the other end, the ball drops to Thompson on the edge but she drags her effort just wide.
14 mins: McCabe is allowed to run about 15 yards unchallenged, giving her the chance to fire a shot at goal from 20 yards but drive is always rising.
12 mins: Arsenal’s first effort, unsurprisingly, comes from Russo but her low drive from the edge of the box is straight at Hampton.
10 mins: Chelsea have had more than 90% possession thus far. I am not sure that is sustainable for Arsenal. I appreciate they have the cushion but they might need more ambition.
8 mins: Carpenter does great work down the right and picks out Nusken in the box but she sends her shot wide, despite being under no pressure 12 yards out. She will be frustrated by not at least testing the goalkeeper.
6 mins: James has dropped in between to Chelsea centre-backs, such is her eagerness to get on the ball.
4 mins: Arsenal have barely had a touch in the first few minutes. Chelsea are knocking it around and James is trying to make a nuance of herself. She puts in a cross from deep, which earns a corner on the left. The set-piece is carefully constructed, allowing Walsh to clip the ball to the back post, causing a moment of panic before the danger is cleared.
2 mins: Chelsea get the ball forward quickly, eager to put the Arsenal defence but the Gunners have no issues. They have a goal kick and the referee thinks Van Domselaar is taking too long and has an early word about timewasting.
Kick off
Peep! Peep! Peep! Here we go!
The players are out …
Sonia Bompastor: “I think our job is to make sure we produce good football and good performance, to bring the fans with us, because I think they can make an impact and a difference for the players. They can bring the extra energy the players need in these types of games. Hopefully, it will be good for us to put on a good performance and create a good scenario.”
Renée Slegers: “I think all the games we’ve played against Chelsea this season have been very, very tight. We expect a battle tonight as well. For us, we were happy with the results and parts of our performance in the home game. For us tonight, it starts 0-0.”
Charles Antaki emails: “Arsenal fans will be a bit perturbed to hear that Leah Williamson is still not recovered enough to take part. She had a cameo 10 minutes a while back, but seems to have regressed. Catley thankfully is back from International duty, and makes a serviceable pair alongside Wubben-Moy, but it’s looking a bit light otherwise; and neither of them have quite the authority (of the passing range) of Williamson. Expect some wobbles at the back, and Caldentey having to come deep to pick up the ball. Could be fine; should be fine.”
Erin Cuthbert: “I mean as a player you just want the next game to come. I just wanted the next game and the second leg to be the next day. Of course we were disappointed. A few decisions went against us, didn’t play our best in the second half. The goal by LJ, we’ve stayed alive in the tie.Still got a big deficit to overturn. But you know, if there’s a dressing room that can do it, it’s the one in there. This is only half-time.”
Getting warm.
Leah Williamson misses out through injury for Arsenal, which is a bit of a blow.
The early kick-off is set for an intriguing ending. Join Yara El-Shaboury for the latest from Bayern Munich v Manchester United.
Starting lineups
Chelsea: Hampton, Carpenter, Buurman, Nusken, Cuthbert, James, Thompson, Kerr, Bronze, Buchanan, Walsh
Subs: Peng, Spencer, Charles, Girma, Sarwie, Baltimore, Kaptein, Potter
Arsenal: Van Domselaar, Fox, Wubben-Moy, Catley, McCabe, Mariona, Little, Russo, Smith, Foord, Blackstenius
Subs: Borbe, Votikova, Codina, Hinds, Holmberg, Pelova, Maanum, Mead, Kelly
Preamble
A two-goal deficit is not an insurmountable figure for Chelsea, especially considering the quality available to Sonia Bompastor. They have an incredible array of attacking talent who should embrace the challenge tonight on home soil against the reigning champions. They are unbeaten in five in the league and finished Aston Villa with four goals, to show the shooting boots are certainly on and they will give it a go tonight.
Many things are against Chelsea, however, starting with the Arsenal defence. The Gunners have only conceded 12 goals in 17 Women’s Super League games, so will be confident of keeping the Blues relatively quiet. Furthermore, Alessia Russo’s North London derby hat-trick at the weekend will further boost her confidence and will fancy her chances of getting a few chances against a side that conceded three against Aston Villa on Sunday.
Let’s hope for a cracker.
Kick-off: 8pm BST.