{"id":1110563,"date":"2019-10-13T16:59:04","date_gmt":"2019-10-13T15:59:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/?p=1110563"},"modified":"2019-10-13T17:11:12","modified_gmt":"2019-10-13T16:11:12","slug":"chelsea-arsenal-wsl-thorisdottir-match-analysis","status":"publish","type":"features","link":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/chelsea-arsenal-wsl-thorisdottir-match-analysis\/","title":{"rendered":"Chelsea 2-1 Arsenal: Five things learned as Thorisdottir goal sends Blues second in WSL table"},"content":{"rendered":"

Chelsea came from a goal behind to beat Arsenal 2-1 on Sunday in an entertaining WSL encounter.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Dani\u00eblle van de Donk opened the scoring for the Gunners after just nine minutes but that goal seemed to awaken Emma Hayes’ side, who equalised through Beth England after half-time.<\/p>\n

https:\/\/audioboom.com\/posts\/7392697-premier-league-s-best-united-it-s-not-the-one-from-manchester<\/p>\n

The Blues found a late, deserved winner through Maria Thorisdottir in the 86th minute, sending them above Arsenal into second in the WSL table.<\/p>\n

So, what did we learn from the match?<\/p>\n

1. Van de Donk caps off a brilliant week<\/strong><\/h2>\n

It’s not been a bad week for Van de Donk.<\/p>\n

The 28-year-old picked up her 100th cap for the Netherlands on Tuesday, opening the scoring in their 2-0 win over Russia to leave them six points clear at the top of Group A.<\/p>\n

And on Sunday, she capped off a landmark week with a brilliantly taken strike to open the scoring for Arsenal against Chelsea after just nine minutes.<\/p>\n

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Compatriot Vivianne Miedema dropped off the forward line to create space between Chelsea’s full-back and centre-back before feeding Van de Donk, who had instinctively charged into the gap she had left. From there, it was never in doubt, as Van de Donk fired beyond\u00a0Ann-Katrin Berger with calm and authority.<\/p>\n

Dutch magic for the Gunners.<\/p>\n

2. Ji exposes some pressing issues for Arsenal<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Chelsea really struggled to get to grips with Arsenal during the opening 20 minutes and it looked as if the Gunners would simply walk with ease back to the top of the WSL table.<\/p>\n

However, the instructions from Chelsea manager Hayes were clear from the sideline: press higher and commit Ji So-Yun forward.<\/p>\n

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Once the Blues finally started to do that, Arsenal couldn’t live with them. Ji suddenly became a marauding presence for Chelsea, winning the ball back all over the final third and allowing her side to transition with speed and ferocity.<\/p>\n

Ji became a creative hub and was unlucky not to get herself on the scoresheet on a number of occasions but her efforts highlighted a clear strength in the press for Chelsea, and an obvious weakness to it for Arsenal when they were in possession.<\/p>\n

That she left the pitch with cramp in the final 10 minutes was quite understandable.<\/p>\n

3. England efforts rewarded<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Following the example set by Ji, England was an unstoppable, relentless pressing machine up front for Chelsea on Sunday, putting in some serious yards to get Hayes’ side on the front foot.<\/p>\n

During the first half, you could have easily criticised her for lacking a clinical edge in front of goal \u2013 potentially tiring herself out trying to win the ball back and lacking energy and composure when her chances finally came.<\/p>\n

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However, she received her reward in the second half, getting on the end of a Fran Kirby delivery and firing home the equaliser after another breakneck Chelsea counter-attack, this time starting with Erin Cuthbert winning the ball back in Arsenal’s final third.<\/p>\n

Prior to Sunday, her WSL shot conversion rate this season was just 13 per cent but as this clash with Arsenal showed, she offers so much more than just goals. When they do come, that’s an added bonus.<\/p>\n

A first senior international goal last week and an equaliser for Chelsea this week. Not bad at all for England.<\/p>\n