Arsenal 3-1 Chelsea: Gunners take control in Women’s Champions League tie

March 25, 2026 Alex Carter - Sports Editor Sport

Arsenal Women took a significant step towards the Champions League semi-finals with a 3-1 victory over rivals Chelsea in the first leg of their quarter-final tie at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday.

Stina Blackstenius opened the scoring for the Gunners against the run of play, heading home a Katie McCabe free-kick in the 21st minute. Chloe Kelly then doubled Arsenal’s advantage just after the half-hour mark with a powerful strike. Despite Chelsea’s spirited response, which saw Lauren James pull a goal back in the 66th minute, Alessia Russo’s late goal – her eighth in this season’s Champions League, a latest record for an English player – secured a two-goal cushion for Renee Slegers’ side ahead of next week’s second leg at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea had enjoyed the better of the opening exchanges, twice hitting the woodwork through Alyssa Thompson and James, but Arsenal weathered the early storm and capitalized on their opportunities. The victory extends Arsenal’s impressive record at the Emirates, where they have lost only once in 21 games under Slegers. They were also entering the match in strong form, having been unbeaten in seven games across all competitions since a 2-0 win over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in January.

However, the match was not without its controversy. A Veerle Buurman goal for Chelsea was disallowed after a challenge on Arsenal defender Laia Codina, a decision upheld by VAR despite appearing soft. Later, another Chelsea goal, this time from Kadeisha Buchanan, was also ruled out due to a high foot challenge.

Renee Slegers praised her team’s “clinical and ruthless” performance after the match, highlighting their ability to handle the pressure of a high-stakes London derby. “The game was very tight today. We both had our moments. We were clinical and ruthless with our chances,” Slegers told BBC Sport. “It was gritty at times, there were duels, there is very little time and space in the central areas. It was hard at times.”

The Gunners were without key players Leah Williamson and Steph Catley due to injury, as well as the Australian trio of Caitlin Foord, Kyra Cooney-Cross and Chloe Sarwie due to their participation in the Asian Cup. Katie McCabe was deployed out of position in the second half after Codina was substituted at half-time, a tactical shift praised by Slegers for McCabe’s “intelligence” as a player.

Alessia Russo’s goal not only extended Arsenal’s lead but also set a new benchmark for English players in the Women’s Champions League. Despite the personal achievement, Russo remained focused on the task ahead, acknowledging that the tie is far from over. “We definitely know that with two goals, it can change in an instant. It is nowhere near done. We’ll have to prepare really well and see what we can improve on from this game,” she said.

Chelsea now face a challenging second leg at Stamford Bridge on April 1, where they will need to overcome the two-goal deficit to keep their Champions League hopes alive.