Record-breaking Chelsea looking to make Arsenal history at Stamford Bridge
Chelsea Women have sold more than 25,000 tickets for their upcoming Women's Super League match against Arsenal on Sunday, January 26, and the club are still hoping to sell many more for the enormous game at Stamford Bridge.
The Blues are currently top of the WSL table after the opening 10 games of the season - winning nine and drawing one. Sonia Bompastor has made the perfect start to what was a huge job in replacing club legend Emma Hayes, with her side currently boasting a six-point gap at the summit of the table.
By the time the Gunners come to SW6, it could be first versus second, although that would require Manchester City dropping points this weekend against Manchester United. Meanwhile, Chelsea will be determined to keep up their magnificent start to the season as they travel to West Ham United on Sunday afternoon.
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Then a Subway Women's League Cup tie with Durham awaits at Kingsmeadow next Wednesday, just four days before Chelsea welcome Arsenal to the Bridge in what should be a pulsating encounter. The Blues will be looking to make a real statement in front of - at the very least - 25,000 supporters as Bompastor looks to continue Haye's legacy and deliver the club their sixth WSL title on the bounce.
Speaking back in August, Bompastor, who was appointed as the club's new head coach on a four-year deal back in May 2024, expressed her drive and eagerness to continue building on the foundations Hayes created at Chelsea. "I've been really impressed with all the work Emma did for such a long time," the Blues head coach told club media back in August.
"She started from the bottom and built the club up on her own. I say on her own and I say that knowing there were a lot of others behind the scenes, too - but, she was the leader. The true leader and I have so much respect for that.
"I will be careful building on this legacy because she left the club in such a good place. Now, I just want to make sure we go for the next step. I will be respectful while bringing my own identity and my own vision to the project.
"I just want to say thank you to Emma because she's been very supportive. We have talked to each other and she has been trying to help me as much as she can. I can feel she really loves the club and she wants to make sure the club stays in the right place."
The club will go some way in beating their record attendance, which was set in April 2024 when 39,398 supporters watched on as Chelsea played Barcelona at Stamford Bridge in the semi-final second-leg of the UWCL. In terms of the WSL, though, Chelsea's record attendance at Stamford Bridge was 32,970 against Arsenal in March 2024 and with 10 days to go until the Gunners come to Stamford Bridge again, the club will be hoping to produce similar numbers.
The Blues remain without star striker Sam Kerr, who has been absent now for more than 12 months after sustaining an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury during the club's warm weather training camp in Morocco. Bompastor, speaking last month, was hopeful Kerr would be able to get herself back onto the pitch in February or March time.
"I would say Sam we are looking to maybe have back with us February, March, not before that," Bompastor said. "She didn't start yet to train, even being modified with the group, so she is still on her individual process rehab and I think it will take at least two or three more months for her to be fit enough to be with the squad."
For Kerr, it is her second ACL injury of her career thus far. She missed the opportunity to represent Australia in the 2012 Olympic Games in London because of a similar injury. The Aussie is not planning on rushing back to action as she looks to get her recovery process just right.
Speaking back in September, Kerr told Optus Sport: "I'm not putting a date on my return, just making sure I get it right and making sure I feel good before I get back on the pitch. I mean, it is my second ACL, so I know you need to take the time, you need to make sure it's right and I'm doing everything I can.
"But there is definitely no rush for me. I want to make sure I can play for many more years to come."
Kerr is currently on 99 goals for the club with the Australian striker closing in on her century in just 128 appearances in all competitions.
Elsewhere, Chelsea will learn their UEFA Women's Champions League opponents for the quarter-final stage next month. The draw will be made on February 7 after the Blues progressed with a record-breaking six victories from as many matches in the group stage. Chelsea became the first English club to win all six matches at that point of the competition.
