Emma Hayes acknowledged that Arsenal was able to dominate and overpower Chelsea, causing them to play poorly in their 4-1 loss at the Emirates Stadium. She stated that it was one of the worst performances she has seen from her team in a while, especially considering the record-breaking attendance of 59,042 for a WSL match.
Arsenal and Chelsea are now tied for points at the top of the table, with Arsenal slightly trailing in goal difference. This was thanks to an impressive performance highlighted by goals from Beth Mead, Amanda Ilestedt, and two from Alessia Russo. Manager Jonas Eidevall praised Arsenal’s display as their best of the season so far. On the other hand, Chelsea manager Emma Hayes was disappointed with her team’s performance.
“The performance today was one of the worst I have seen from us in a long time,” stated the Chelsea manager. “The opposing team clearly outplayed us in every aspect and were far more physical. We were dominated in duels and our overall play was subpar. This is not the level we strive for, it was perhaps our lowest point.”
Hayes considered the consequences of this loss on the race for the title. “It’s inevitable to face defeat, you cannot go through an entire season without losing, especially against strong opponents. However, what you must not do is concede three goals before half-time and then recklessly give away a fourth. That’s just handing it over.”
Teams can experience losses in football matches. While we have also lost a match, it is not a catastrophic event. Today, we have not lost the title. Rather, we have lost three points.
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Hayes stated that she did not witness an event where Chelsea’s Lauren James seemingly stepped on Arsenal’s Lia Wälti in frustration after the game had paused. Eidevall also chose not to provide much information on the situation, saying, “I witnessed it, but I don’t believe I can fully discuss it.” He added, “We received six yellow cards while they only received one, in a match where the fouls were relatively equal. It is what it is.”
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“This has been our most impressive performance of the season thus far. However, in football, consistency is key to achieving success. It’s fantastic that we have set a high standard for ourselves to build upon. This is always a challenge in football, and now we must focus on resting and regaining our mental and physical energy. We must be prepared for Wednesday’s match against Tottenham in the League Cup.”
“What stands out to me is that, while we are currently happy with our reaction, ultimately our final position in the league will be what truly counts. Our success or failure will not be determined today. It is important for us to maintain our focus, continue improving, and strive for consistency in our performances. This will prove to be highly valuable, but can only be achieved through future efforts.”
Source: theguardian.com
