Sam Kerr and Fran Kirby torment Arsenal as dominant Chelsea seal domestic treble with Women's FA Cup

• Arsenal 0 Chelsea 3, Women's FA Cup final at Wembley

• Fran Kirby opens scoring for dominant Chelsea before second-half double from Sam Kerr

• Women's FA Cup secures historic domestic treble for Chelsea

In years to come, this will surely be remembered as the Fran Kirby and Sam Kerr final. The strike duo's world-class, cup-winning display saw manager Emma Hayes label Kirby a "national treasure" and Kerr "the best striker in the world", after they tormented Arsenal in front of 40,942 fans at Wembley to secure Chelsea's third Women’s FA Cup and complete a domestic treble for their 2020-21 season.

Such was the strength of the "Kerrby" combination, Chelsea could well have beaten the league leaders by five or six goals. Instead, it was still an emphatic 3-0, after England’s Kirby placed Chelsea in front in the third minute of a first half that Chelsea completely controlled, before Australia’s Kerr fired in a low strike after half-time and then added her second with a masterful lob in the latter stages, capping off a memorable display.

The resounding result saw Hayes’ team add to last season's league and League Cup crowns complete their first domestic treble, in what was the conclusion of last season's competition, delayed by the pandemic. And the Chelsea coach labelled the achievement as her side's "biggest" to date. Of England forward Kirby, Hayes added: "That was Fran's best game in a Chelsea shirt, she ran the show, she was a real threat, a real handful throughout the game. She's been telling me for weeks what I was to expect today and she delivered above and beyond. She's a national treasure, so look after her."

Kirby may well have foreseen what the Blues would produce yet, beforehand, this game had been widely billed by many as being too close to call. Arsenal have a one-point lead over Chelsea at the top of the Women’s Super League, having beaten their rivals 3-2 in September, but on that day neither Kirby nor her strike partner Kerr started. On Sunday they showed why they are the WSL’s leading goal contributors this term.

Last season’s golden boot winner Kerr has nine goals and three league assists this term, to Kirby’s six goals and five assists, and they stole the show with their fine movement. Quite how Chelsea were only 1-0 up at the break was tough to comprehend. Only the reflexes of Austria goalkeeper Manuela Zinsberger and the width of the woodwork kept Arsenal in it.

The opening goal had come after early pressing from Chelsea, as Arsenal’s Norway midfielder Frida Maanum was pressured into giving away possession and Kirby was allowed to race through the centre of Arsenal’s defence and calmly tuck the ball home.

Moments later, a Lia Walti error presented Chelsea with a chance to immediately double their lead, but Kerr - who appeared to be nudged in the back by centre-half Jen Beattie - saw her close-range effort blocked by Zinsberger after Kirby’s through ball. The Arsenal keeper then palmed a Kirby effort onto the post, in another move where Beattie appeared to foul Kerr but no penalty was given. Var is not used in the competition, and Scotland’s Beattie was fortunate.

Kerr also shot onto the crossbar, squandering a big chance, but she more than made up for it after the break, latching onto a ball down the left from Kirby and beating Zinsberger with a powerful near-post finish. She added a beautifully-taken third 13 minutes from time with a delicate chip - a goal that will be replayed over and over again. In between those strikes , Kirby had smacked an effort onto the post from range. Both players were substituted late on to warm, standing ovations that they richly deserved.

The third goal suitably illustrated the strength of Kerr's iconic performance, and Hayes lauded her contribution, saying: "So many wondered how she would cope in the English game. As far as I'm concerned she's the best striker in the world and she displayed that today when it really mattered.

"She's courageous, she's full of confidence, and she can do that off the back of getting off a plane from Sydney, Australia on Thursday. Champions don’t make excuses. Sam takes responsibility, she sets the standards for herself, and that’s what I admire about her. There was no way she was going to be on the losing team today. We are extremely lucky to have her. She's a superb athlete and an amazing human."

Dejected Arsenal remain by far the competition’s most successful club with a record 14 titles, but they have not lifted the trophy since 2016, with Chelsea and Manchester City beginning to dominate the domestic honours in the modern, professional era. Their head coach Jonas Eidevall vowed to pick his forlorn-looking players up, saying: "I told them that, at times like this, everyone will say we are bad and they think we are at the bottom but we need to believe as a group. As a group we can support each other - let's remember that we have failed before and risen again and we will do that one more time."

And on a date that marked exactly 100 years since the Football Association banned women’s football on December 5, 1921, the cup was celebrating its 50th year and Chelsea’s relentless work rate and persistent counter-attacking was a fitting tribute to the heroines of the past who stubbornly revived the women’s game despite the FA’s damaging ban.

Hayes said: "Many [former cup-winning] captains didn't get the privilege of playing at Wembley, the privilege of playing on BBC One. This win is as much about them as it is about Chelsea. Sacrifices have been made and we must acknowledge them."

Chelsea's domination offers compelling evidence that they are best English football has seen

by Luke Edwards at Wembley

Emma Hayes warned Arsenal what her Chelsea side wanted to do to them. Not just in this FA Cup Final, not only the showpiece occasions, but every time they face each other, Chelsea intend to dominate and destroy.

The mission statement is clear, the motivation behind this trophy-winning machine remains unsedated, the aims still laser-focused. It is why we should regard this Chelsea side as the best the women’s game has seen in this country.

It is difficult to compare sides from different eras, particularly in the women’s game when you are looking at a sport that was a part-time pursuit for decades and only turned fully professional in 2018.

For so long, Arsenal were so much better than everyone else, winning the league so many times it became routine before they secured an unprecedented quadruple back in 2007. But Chelsea belong in the professional era. They are full-time athletes, more dedicated; fitter and stronger.

Arsenal were part-time players competing against other teams made up of players who had day jobs and trained in the evenings.

The standard of women's football has changed so much since the WSL was launched and Chelsea are raising them higher.

They are the best of the best in England and hammered that message home this weekend. The FA Cup final win completed the first domestic treble of the fully professional era. They cruised through it, too, and they will not slip or falter any time soon.

Whenever they are pitched into battle, no matter the stage, whether it is a cup game or in the league - a domestic final or a European one - Chelsea want to flex, intimidate and continue in their ruthless quest for complete domination of English club football.

They want to win everything, not share the silverware around. They want their rivals to look at them with fear, not just respect. They want to crush everyone who thinks they can deny them what they believe is theirs to take.

And that is precisely what Chelsea did to Arsenal at the home of English football. Just as they did the last time they met in an FA Cup final here three years ago, just as they have done in the Women’s Super League for the last two years.

Chelsea did not just beat their London rivals, they outplayed them, took them apart, outclassed them and reminded everyone why they have been the most successful club side for the last three years. This was a statement performance - they will not be loosening their grip on power unless someone proves strong enough to rip it from them. Arsenal did not look like that side here.

Hayes is enjoying herself, so are the players and, although Arsenal are currently sitting top of the WSL - having beaten Chelsea 3-2 back in September to offer evidence of their own resurgence - the gap between them is just one point and they have to face each other again in west London before the title race is decided.

“Dominating is our only objective,” said Hayes before this win completed a domestic clean sweep of trophies for last season’s beaten Champions League finalists. European conquest remains on the to-do list.

Arsenal will not be hurt because they lost, it was the way in which they were brushed aside in front of a large crowd and a live television audience. It was not just a defeat, it was a savage beating and they were made to look like victims, a team unable to compete.

From the moment three Arsenal defenders failed to deal with a simple ball over the top, standing and looking at each other, waiting for someone else to deal with the danger as Sam Kerr buzzed around them and Fran Kirby charged through the middle of them to steal the ball and open the scoring after just three minutes, Chelsea were in control.

They should have had the game won before half-time and the 3-0 scoreline flattered Arsenal. Only the defiance of goalkeeper Manuela Zinsberger kept them interested until Chelsea pulled clear just before the hour mark.

Arsenal saved their worst performance of the season for the biggest of stages, freezing under pressure, with none of their star players shining.

Chelsea took it all in their stride and made it look easy. Their star names shone. That is why they are the best team in England. It is why they are probably the best this country has seen.

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Match details

Arsenal (4-3-3): Zinsberger 7; Maritz 5, Wubben-Moy 5 (Boye Sorensen 6, 87), Beattie 4 (Foord 6, 70), Catley 5; Little 6, Walti 5 (Iwabuchi 6, 61), Maanum 4; Mead 6, Miedema 5 (Parris 6, 80), McCabe 5
Subs not used: Patten, Nobbs, Williams (gk), Schnaderbeck, Goldie
Yellow cards: Mead, Parris, McCabe

Chelsea (3-4-3): Berger 6; Bright 6, Carter 7, Eriksson 7; Cuthbert 8, Leupolz 7 (Ji 6, 86), Ingle 7 (Nouwen 6, 90+4), Reiten 7 (Spence 6, 87); Fleming 6, Kerr 10 (England 6, 86), Kirby 10 (Harder 6, 74)
Subs not used: Musovic (gk), Charles, Andersson, Fox
Yellow cards: Cuthbert

Referee: Helen Conley (Durham)

Attendance: 40,942

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Women's FA Cup final: as it happened

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04:07 PM

That's all folks

Tom Garry's report from Wembley is above.

Thanks for joining us this afternoon for Chelsea's historic win.

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04:05 PM

Sam Kerr speaks to the BBC

We deserved it and played really well - we have been the past few weeks. We came in as underdogs and we had a point to prove. We're buzzing.

It wouldn't go in [for a while] but we knew it was coming. It could have been four or five in the first half but they defended well.

I'm paid to score goals but our defence was amazing. It was a team effort.

I love you guys [back home]. I can't wait to party.

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03:56 PM

Full-time: Arsenal 0 Chelsea 3

It's all over.

Chelsea have won the 2021 Women's FA Cup, securing the domestic treble.

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03:54 PM

90+2 mins: Arsenal 0 Chelsea 3

Miedema is onside but Carter gets back to put in a wonderfully physical challenge to thwart the Dutch star.

That shows Chelsea's desire. Still fighting to the last.

Two minutes remain as Arsenal hunt for a consolation

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03:50 PM

90 mins: Arsenal 0 Chelsea 3

McCabe leaves her foot high and catches Spence in the midriff. Could have been a second yellow, but the referee decides against it.

Chelsea are just knocking it around now, running down the clock.

Sam Kerr is named as the official player of the match. Quite right, too.

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03:47 PM

Chelsea's third; Kerr's second

A delightful dink from Sam Kerr!

That's the goal makes sure it'll Chelsea's name on the #WomensFACup trophy!

Watch the closing stages live on @BBCOne and @BBCiPlayer. pic.twitter.com/ilgcrBjtHG

— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) December 5, 2021

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03:47 PM

87 mins: Arsenal 0 Chelsea 3

Kerr departs after scoring two of Chelsea's three goals. And England comes on. Leupolz and Reiten also leave, with Ji and Spence coming on.

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03:46 PM

85 mins: Arsenal 0 Chelsea 3

A wayward pass from Wubben-Moy gives Chelsea a sniff of a counter but Kerr is caught offside.

It just hasn't really been Arsenal's day.

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03:43 PM

83 mins: Arsenal 0 Chelsea 3

Chelsea still looking dangerous, here, with Harder in space down the left, rocketing a ball into the box. Fletcher get on the end of it on the edge of the box but the shot flies into the stands.

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03:42 PM

82 mins: Arsenal 0 Chelsea 3

Parris is on for Arsenal now, too, and mis-times a challenge on Reiten as her first act. And she is booked.

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03:40 PM

80 mins: Arsenal 0 Chelsea 3

Arsenal, now, are deflated and playing for pride. They earn themselves a corner but it is headed away by Bright, who has been totemic at the back for Chelsea.

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03:39 PM

Goooooaaaaalllll!!!!

London is blue. Chelsea are 3-0 up!

Iwabuchi is caught in possession for Arsenal and Kerr is away down the right. And what a lobbed finish it is from the Australian at full pace. She is just on-side. Perfection.

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03:37 PM

77 mins: Arsenal 0 Chelsea 2

Harder with a mazy run as her opening exploit and she has the Arsenal defence at sixes an sevens. She descends on the Arsenal goal but after the good work the shot is a little weak. Nowhere near enough to beat Zinsberger

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03:36 PM

75 mins: Arsenal 0 Chelsea 2

Great break and ball into the box from Little down the right for Arsenal but Cuthbert is there to save the day for Chelsea, turning the ball behind for a corner.

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03:35 PM

Tom Garry, Women's Football Correspondent, from the Wembley stands

If Fran Kirby doesn't win the player of the match award, there should be a full inquest. She's scored six goals and provided five assists in just eight league appearances so far this season and she's continuing that form today, on the biggest club stage there is. What a footballer.

Sadly Kirby is having to depart. She has been immense. But on comes Penille Harder - twice European Footballer of the Year. Not a bad sub.

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03:33 PM

73 mins: Arsenal 0 Chelsea 2

Play restarts with little drama and Arsenal, with a new attacking formation, look for a lifeline.

But it's all Chelsea again. Kirby gets on her bike and runs with the ball ruthlessly to the edge of the Arsenal box. She whips a shot away and it hits the post! Zinsberger, feet planted, was well beaten.

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03:31 PM

70 mins: Arsenal 0 Chelsea 2

There are players down everywhere!

Arsenal sling a dangerous ball into the box and Berger comes for it but she cannot get there.

The goalkeeper stays down with cramp and the referee blows up, but down the other end Kirby was away. She seems to have been fouled after the whistle.

Let's see how play restarts. It's quite ironic that Berger has gone down with cramp - she's the player on the pitch who has had least to do today. Probably cold.

Foord on, Beattie off for Arsenal. Here come the attacking reinforcements.

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03:27 PM

Chelsea's second

From Arsenal attack to Chelsea goal in 15 seconds!

There's a long way to go in the #WomensFACup final, but Emma Hayes' side will take some stopping now!

Watch live on @BBCOne and @BBCiPlayer pic.twitter.com/cn9i5uWs0a

— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) December 5, 2021

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03:26 PM

65 mins: Arsenal 0 Chelsea 2

A better sequence from Arsenal, controlling possession; the problem is they have not done much with it.

Zinsberger fires a long ball upfield and there is confusion in the Chelsea ranks between Cuthbert and Bright. Arsenal win a corner but McCabe's delivery is a shocker and Chelsea clear.

A yellow for McCabe, too, for a cynical foul on Kirby as she tried to counter.

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03:22 PM

Tom Garry, Women's Football Correspondent, from the Wembley stands

Kerr and Kirby's partnership up front has been the dominant force in the English women's game for the past 15 months and this is turning into an iconic performance from them. It's going to be remembered as the Kerrby final, surely.

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03:21 PM

61 mins: Arsenal 0 Chelsea 2

Signs of improvement for Arsenal but they are undone as Wubben-Moy redirects her clearance.

Kirby streaks forward, again, but she cannot link up with a team-mate and Arsenal clear.

Sub for Arsenal: Walti off and Iwabuchi on.

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03:17 PM

Gooooaaaallll!!!

In a flash, Kerr finishes a length-of-the-field move for Chelsea!

Chelsea win the ball back in their own half and Kirby is first to react. She nudges a long, direct pass into the path of Kerr, who cuts back inside, wrong-foots Zinsberger and scores at the near-post.

Game over? Chelsea with one hand on the trophy, certainly.

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03:16 PM

56 mins: Arsenal 0 Chelsea 1

Chance for Chelsea!

Really well worked move from the leaders. Eriksson finds Cuthbert wide on the right who whips a ball into Kerr. The Australian loses her marker but cannot put her header past Zinsberger in the Arsenal goal.

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03:14 PM

54 mins: Arsenal 0 Chelsea 1

Both teams struggling to put a stamp on this second half so far, it's a little bitty with no shots on target as of yet.

Bright launches a Chelsea free-kick upfield, looking for Kirby and Kerr. Eriksson floats a tempting cross in, too, but Catley heads away astutely.

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03:12 PM

51 mins: Arsenal 0 Chelsea 1

More promising from Arsenal as Little becomes even more prominent.

She finds Mead unmarked in the box and only a thumping challenge from Carter prevents the shot.

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03:09 PM

49 mins: Arsenal 0 Chelsea 1

Catley and McCabe try to work something down the left for Arsenal but Bright is a rock at the back.

Little makes a very handy run into the box and Miedema almost finds her in behind, but there's slightly too much on the cross.

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03:07 PM

46 mins: Arsenal 0 Chelsea 1

No half-time changes.

Early Chelsea pressure again as Kirby regains possession in the box but cannot unleash a shot.

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03:05 PM

The teams are back out

Which way is this one going? Will Chelsea push on or is there a remarkable Arsenal smash-and-grab to come?

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02:58 PM

Those two penalty shouts

Did the ref get both wrong? There's certainly a case for that.

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02:54 PM

Tom Garry, Women's Football Correspondent, from the Wembley stands

The Chelsea fans can scarcely believe they're only 1-0 up, after a half where they were remarkably dominant. Emma Hayes will hope they're not made to pay for their missed chances. Surely Arsenal can't be that bad again in the second half? The north Londoners are the cup's most successful club with a record 14 titles but they've not won it since 2016 and they'll have to improve if that's going to change here today.

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02:49 PM

Half-time: Arsenal 0 Chelsea 1

Fran Kirby's third-minute goal is the difference between the sides at the break.

Chelsea were dominant for 30 minutes before Arsenal improved. As odd as it sounds, Arsenal should be heading into the changing rooms the happier here. Chelsea have missed at least five clear-cut chances and yet Arsenal trail by just one goal.

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02:48 PM

45+1 mins: Arsenal 0 Chelsea 1

More danger for Arsenal as are dispossessed cheaply on the right - again.

Kirby sprints away before linking up with Kerr in the box, but the pass is clumsy, giving the Australian too much to do, and Zinsberger gets off her line well to claim the pass.

Fleming was open on the right, too, if Kirby had seen.

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02:45 PM

45 mins: Arsenal 0 Chelsea 1

Foul on Mead by Cuthbert as the Arsenal winger attacked a probing ball into space from Wubben-Moy.

Both players are down injured, but it wouldn't come as surprise if Cuthbert was booked for that.

Three minutes of added time to come, incidentally.

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02:43 PM

43 mins: Arsenal 0 Chelsea 1

Arsenal, slowly, are waking up.

McCabe challenges a 50-50 after Kerr is outmuscled and Arsenal win a free-kick from shooting distance.

Maanum fires it straight at the wall and Bright's clearing header from the ensuing cross was critical - Mead was unmarked at the back post.

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02:41 PM

41 mins: Arsenal 0 Chelsea 1

Penalty?

Looks stonewall but the ref waves it away! Mead enters the Chelsea box and as she cuts back inside, she wrong-foots Cuthbert who hits the deck and (inadvertently) handles the ball.

No penalty given, but it looked suspect. Chelsea have got away with one there.

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02:39 PM

39 mins: Arsenal 0 Chelsea 1

More confidence for Arsenal, as Mead dribbles down the left, putting Carter under pressure.

But the block is good as Mead looks to put the cross in and Arsenal earn the corner.

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02:38 PM

36 mins: Arsenal 0 Chelsea 1

Is his almost as concerning for Chelsea as it is for Arsenal?

This 35 minutes has been phenomenally one-sided, and yet Chelsea, for all their abattoir dominance, only lead by one goal. They have spurned several chances, all of their own doing. Arsenal have barely had a sniff, and every time Chelsea touch the ball it seems as if Zinsberger will be called into action. Yet, the lead is just one goal. An Arsenal breakaway and they're right back in it!

And just as I type, Kerr has missed another! Wubben-Moy is weak on the ball when tracking back and Kerr exploits wonderfully. The Australian is one-on-one with the 'keeper but she hits the bar!

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02:31 PM

Chelsea's penalty shout

Thoughts?

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02:31 PM

29 mins: Arsenal 0 Chelsea 1

Mead causes trouble for the Chelsea defence, winning Arsenal a corner.

It's a flat corner that does not beat the first defender, and Eriksson heads away with ease.

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02:29 PM

Tom Garry, Women's Football Correspondent, from the Wembley stands

Austria goalkeeper Manuela Zinsberger is keeping Arsenal in this final.

She'll be in goal for her country in the opening game of next summer's Women's Euros - against England - at Old Trafford on July 6.

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02:29 PM

29 mins: Arsenal 0 Chelsea 1

Another chance for Chelsea - it's about one-a-minute currently.

Kirby breaks up the middle in space and puts it on a plate for Reiten, but the winger stumbles over the ball as she winds up for a shot in the box and Arsenal survive - again.

A great touchy from Leupolz follows, and a blocked Kirby shot earns Chelsea a corner.

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02:27 PM

27 mins: Arsenal 0 Chelsea 1

Another cracking save from Zinsberger!

Chelsea looked to have been doubling their lead, as Reiten flies down the left before linking up with Kerr on the edge of the box. The Australian has all the time in the world to place her shot and, in fairness, she puts it right in the bottom corner, but Zinsberger gets down acrobatically to make a one-handed save.

Then Erikssonhas a free header from the corner, which she puts wide. This should be about 5-0 already! For how much longer can Arsenal rely on Chelsea profligacy?

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02:24 PM

24 mins: Arsenal 0 Chelsea 1

Better from Arsenal with some lovely one-touch build-up play, unlocking a pocket of space for Miedema on the edge of the box.

McCabe locates the Dutchwoman on the edge of the box but her shot is horribly skewed. Still, at least she managed to get a shot away, which is virtually more than Arsenal had managed until then.

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02:22 PM

Tom Garry, Women's Football Correspondent, from the Wembley stands

Both Jonas Eidevall and Emma Hayes are standing in their technical areas, issuing instructions, and both wearing long, brown coats of which former Manchester United manager Casey Stoney would be proud. Despite her side's early lead, Hayes doesn't appear happy about something tactical. She's doing a fair bit of gesticulating with her arms.

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02:21 PM

21 mins: Arsenal 0 Chelsea 1

Cracking save from Zinsberger after another Chelsea chance. There's a penalty shout, too, but it's waved away as Kerr hits the deck, wiped out by Beattie. Looked like they had a case.

Kirby thrashes a shot at Zinsberger's near-post and she does brilliantly to parry away for a corner. Chelsea look like they're going to score every time they touch the ball.

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02:19 PM

18 mins: Arsenal 0 Chelsea 1

Another chance for Chelsea!

Ingle with a pin-perfect ball into the box and Kirby's run couldn't have been timed better, but her finish is straight at Zinsberger.

Chelsea could be 3-0 up here - Arsenal have to take the positives that they're only 1 down and there's still a long way to go.

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02:18 PM

16 mins: Arsenal 0 Chelsea 1

Arsenal corner which is headed away emphatically by Bright. McCabe jinks cleverly before slinging another ball into the box - but Bright heads away again and Chelsea are off!

Kirby enters the Arsenal half on the counter and her ball is a metre away from putting Kerr away. Arsenal survive again.

Another foul against Cuthbert and the referee has a word.

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02:16 PM

Chelsea's opener

Hi, Chelsea fans. Here's that perfect start to the #WomensFACup you ordered!

Fran Kirby with such a composed finish to give Emma Hayes' side an early lead at Wembley.

Watch live on @BBCOne and @BBCiPlayer pic.twitter.com/2lWevaO87z

— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) December 5, 2021

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02:15 PM

14 mins: Arsenal 0 Chelsea 1

Danger for Arsenal again.

Kirby and Kerr - Kerrby, anyone? - are causing havoc for Arsenal. Kerr is in behind again but elects to try and link up with Kirby rather than shoot herself and Arsenal clear. I think the shot was on there.

Still, more hot-knife-through-butter stuff from Chelsea.

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02:13 PM

11 mins: Arsenal 0 Chelsea 1

A better period for Arsenal, as they look to reassert themselves on the game after an anxious opening.

Little bursts up the middle before feeding Miedema who winds up for a shot, but it's well blocked by the Chelsea defence.

Better from Arsenal, but Chelsea still look beautifully at ease.

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02:09 PM

Tom Garry, Women's Football Correspondent, from the Wembley stands

Frida Maanum has been very reliable for Arsenal since joining the club this summer but that's a moment she'll want to forget. She got in a right mess there and it's a gift for Chelsea and Fran Kirby.

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02:08 PM

7 mins: Arsenal 0 Chelsea 1

What a chance! It's all Chelsea!

Arsenal give the ball away cheaply again - Wälti it was - and Kirby finds Kerr on a lethal run in behind. The Australian could have put it anywhere other than at the 'keeper and Chelsea would have been 2-0 up.

But Kerr fired it straight at Zinsberger and Arsenal survive... for now.

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02:05 PM

Tom Garry, Women's Football Correspondent, from the Wembley stands

It's certainly the loudest atmosphere I can ever recall at the start of a Women's FA Cup final. We've even had some booing from the respective sets of supporters as the opposing teams' names were read out, which is very rare in the women's game. And there was a huge roar all around at kick-off.

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02:03 PM

Goooooaaaaaalll!!!

It really is a promising start! Kirby puts Chelsea ahead in the third minute!

There's a mix-up in the Arsenal defence - who have looked shaky in the opening exchanges - and they gift the ball to Kirby who slots it coolly past Zinsberger. Kerr's pressure on Maanum was crucial there, too.

What a start!

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02:02 PM

2 mins: Arsenal 0 Chelsea 0

Cuthbert commits an early foul down the right for Chelsea.

But they win the ball back as Arsenal are inaccurate in their own half, and Kirby is a whisker away from a header in the box.

Promising start for Chelsea.

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02:01 PM

Kick-off!

Monstrous cheers as the players take the knee and Arsenal get us under way.

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01:56 PM

The teams are out at Wembley

A reminder of those line-ups:

Arsenal starting XI (4-3-3): Zinsberger, Wubben-Moy, Beattie, Catley, Mead, Little, Miedema, Maanum, Walti, McCabe, Maritz.

Subs: Williams, Patten, Nobbs, Parris, Foord, Boye, Schnaderbeck, Iwabuchi, Goldie.

Chelsea starting XI (3-4-3): Berger, Bright, Ingle, Carter, Leupolz, Reiten, Kirby, Eriksson, Fleming, Kerr, Cuthbert.

Subs: Musovic, Nouwen, England, Ji, Charles, Harder, Spence, Andersson, Fox.

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01:55 PM

Former captains honoured

The skippers from the first Women's FA Cup final on Sunday, 9 May, 1971 - Lesley Lloyd of Southampton and Elsie Cook of Stewarton Thistle - have just been warmly applauded by the crowd here as they were introduced on the pitch. That's a lovely moment for them. There were no photographers present on the day when they contested the inaugural final at Crystal Palace's National Sports Centre.

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01:50 PM

Tom Garry with a Wembley dispatch

Arsenal have the East Stand, to the right of the TV cameras, while Chelsea's contingent are focused in the West Stand. It's giving the two ends a classic cup-final colour of red versus blue, with flags waving in the air as the teams head off down the tunnel.

Kick-off is in 10 minutes!

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01:47 PM

Jonas Eidevall speaks to the BBC pre-match

You never know too early [what team you are going to pick] but, of course, you have an idea. We decided yesterday after deciding which players were fit, ready and would suit the gameplan as well as possible.

We always put pressure on ourselves when we play games for this club. We want to make ourselves and the fans proud of how we play today.

[Winning trophies] was one of the reasons I came to Arsenal and one of the objectives I have with the team.

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01:41 PM

Milestones (good and bad)

Today marks 100 years since the FA banned women from playing football - "unsuitable for ladies," they said. What timing, then, that today will hopefully (probably) a record-breaking crowd at Wembley.

This year also marks 50 years since the first Women's FA Cup, won by Southampton.

Tom Garry covers both milestones in this comprehensive read on the history of the women's FA Cup.

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01:36 PM

Another dispatch from Tom Garry at Wembley

Ella Henderson and a military band have been entertaining the fans so far inside the stadium. The upper tier of seats is empty, but the lower and middle tiers look set to be pretty packed, as fans file inside, excited for the action.

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01:26 PM

Tom Garry is at Wembley

It's perhaps no surprise given the game is being played in December, but the weather here outside Wembley is a far cry from the traditional, stereotypical image of a cup-final weekend, where warm skies, fans wearing replica shirts and perhaps even a dash of suncream under the early-summer sunshine would feel normal.

Today, the most important thing to bring was a warm, waterproof coat, as rain continues to come down and occasional gusts of wind force the supporters' scarves to flap. There are plenty of fans here nice and early, though, and the flag-sellers are hard at work, as ever. Not forgetting those horns...

This final was delayed from last season because the lockdown at the start of 2021 forced postponements of the early rounds of the cup, before the WSL clubs entered the competition at the fourth-round stage, seeing the whole schedule significantly delayed, hence the unusually-wintery feel to this Wembley day out.

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01:20 PM

A competition-record crowd?

The FA are hopeful today's game will set a new competition record for a Women's FA cup final crowd, writes Tom Garry, Women's Football Correspondent, with more than 48,000 tickets understood to have been issued prior to this morning.

The cup's existing attendance record is the 45,423 who were at the 2018 final between these same two sides. On that day, Chelsea were 3-1 winners under the famous arch.

Since this fixture was moved to be staged at Wembley for the first time in 2015, the final has attracted more than 30,000 for every final, with the exception of last year's, when non fans were allowed into the ground because of the pandemic. The cup's second-highest crowd to date is the 43,264 who saw Man City beat West Ham here in 2019.

As part of their three-year plan to grow & develop the women's game, the FA have targeted selling out Wembley for this final by 2024, while also hoping to see an average crowd in the WSL of 6,000 per game.

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01:03 PM

Team news!

Arsenal are unchanged from the team that won 2-0 at Manchester United on November 21. England defender Leah Williamson (hamstring) remains sidelined, while the USA's World Cup-winning winner Tobin Heath is also out.

Denmark captain, Pernille Harder, the world's most expensive women's player, is fit to return for Chelsea after a minor muscle injury but only enough to be on the bench. Canada's Jessie Fleming starts in the front three instead. Emma Hayes has also opted for Wales' Sophie Ingle in holding midfield instead of South Korea's Ji So-yun.

Otherwise both teams are at full strength. Chelsea are set to be 3-4-3 with Jess Carter as a sweeper, countering Arsenal's 4-3-3.

Arsenal starting XI (4-3-3): Zinsberger, Wubben-Moy, Beattie, Catley, Mead, Little, Miedema, Maanum, Walti, McCabe, Maritz.

Subs: Williams, Patten, Nobbs, Parris, Foord, Boye, Schnaderbeck, Iwabuchi, Goldie.

Chelsea starting XI (3-4-3): Berger, Bright, Ingle, Carter, Leupolz, Reiten, Kirby, Eriksson, Fleming, Kerr, Cuthbert.

Subs: Musovic, Nouwen, England, Ji, Charles, Harder, Spence, Andersson, Fox.

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12:57 PM

Hayes plays down Arsenal rivalry

Chelsea manager Emma Hayes has played down her side's rivalry with Arsenal, Tom Garry writes, ahead of this hotly-anticipated clash of the league's top two sides.

Asked about her opposite number, Jonas Eidevall, who was appointed at Arsenal this summer and is managing the north London side in his first FA Cup final today, Hayes replied: "I don’t see a rivalry between me and the manager, I barely know him. He’s brought brilliant things to the league, he’s been a great addition for them, I think he’s brought a great mentality to their team, and playing against Arsenal as a Chelsea manager is always a great game for us.

"But it’s never been our rival game, Man City has always been that. Yes, this is a London derby, so it’s slightly different and there’s a lot more fan involvement, press interest.

"But I’ve always thought the bigger game was us versus Man City, over the years."

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12:54 PM

Good afternoon!

Hello and welcome to Telegraph Sport's live coverage of today's Women's FA Cup final between Arsenal and Chelsea at Wembley.

Magda Eriksson has warned Chelsea will need to give it everything they have to complete the domestic treble this weekend.

The Women's Super League champions take on Arsenal, the current leaders, in last season's delayed FA Cup final on Sunday.

Chelsea were dominant last term but Arsenal have strengthened since and, after edging Chelsea 3-2 when they met in September, have a one-point advantage over their rivals at the top of the table.

Eriksson, the Chelsea captain, said: "It's going to be a difficult task, we're well aware of that. They're in great form but since that game we've been in great form as well.

"It is about which team comes out the strongest, so we are going to have to be ready to give it everything we have got."

The clash renews the London sides' rivalry in the competition. Arsenal overcame Chelsea to win the last of their record 14 cup triumphs in the 2016 final but fortunes were reversed when they met again in the 2018 showpiece.

Eriksson was in the Chelsea side on that occasion three years ago and has happy memories as she targets a repeat success.

The Sweden international said: "It was my first really big game in England and it is still, to this day, one of the best days in my career.

"It was an amazing experience and hopefully it can be similar on Sunday. I view it as a nice memory, but it was a long time ago. Both are teams that have gone through lots of changes since."

The final marks the culmination of the cup's 50th anniversary season and will be a celebratory occasion for the women's game as a whole.

Arsenal skipper Kim Little is bidding for her fourth FA Cup triumph with Arsenal but her first since rejoining the club in 2017, having been the losing captain in 2018.

"Those experiences in cup finals can help," said 31-year-old Litttle, who retired from international duty with Scotland in September.

"There are definitely things I can think from that (2018) game we could do better. We want to win trophies and we'll be motivated to do it."

PA