Match report: Arsenal Women 2-1 Chelsea

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WHAT HAPPENED

We kickstarted our pre-season campaign with a dominant 2-1 victory over Chelsea at Emirates Stadium on Sunday.

Katie McCabe and academy product Freya Jupp provided the goals, while Simone Boye and Frida Maanum impressed on their first outing in Arsenal colours.

We were without our new head coach, Jonas Eidevall, on the touchline as he continues to quarantine following his arrival from Sweden, but there were clear signs of his high-pressing, high-intensity style in our play.

Jordan Nobbs started the game full of energy and fired two long-range efforts just over the bar, before combining with McCabe for a number of promising moves down the left wing.

We continued to press as a unit and following a surging run from Maanum on the right, she reached the byline and cut the ball back to McCabe, who fired home from inside the penalty area.

We dominated play following the restart too, but as Nobbs contested for a 50/50 with Erin Cuthbert, her ankle was caught and she was sadly forced off on a stretcher.

Pre-planned changes took place on the hour-mark for both teams, with 10 academy players being introduced off the bench - and they certainly stepped up to the challenge.

With less than 10 minutes remaining, Reanna Blades equalised for the Blues against the run of play on the counter, but there would be one last twist to the tale.

Jupp looked dangerous every time she picked up the ball and after racing in behind the Chelsea defence, she picked her spot and rifled a stunning effort into the bottom corner, far beyond the reach of Ann-Katrin Berger.