To be the best, you need to beat the best. That’s why Chelsea Women will face Arsenal Women’s Champions League quarter-final first leg at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday.
For the first time in a while, the Blues find themselves in such a draw as underdogs. It’s a strange feeling that we don’t want to get used to. But that could make things easier for us as the hosts are under pressure to prove their winning streak last season was no fluke.
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Date/Time: Tuesday, March 24, 2026 20:00 BST; 3:00 PM ET
Place: Emirates Stadium, London, UK
referee: Alina Pesu (on the pitch); Ovidiu Hartzegen (VAR)
forecast: More clouds, less wind
On TV: BBC Two (UK); CBS Sports Network, ESPN Deportes (US); elsewhere
Streaming media: BBC iPlayer, Disney+ (UK); ESPN+, fuboTV, Paramount+ (US)
Arsenal team news: With Chelsea failing to capitalize on several chances in the Women’s Super League, at least keeping Manchester City on their toes, the Gunners are the team most likely to take over if they somehow let the trophy slip through their fingers. They have won nine games in a row since January’s 2-0 league win over the Blues.
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Head coach Renee Sleggs will not be able to call upon defender Steph Catley, midfielder Keira Cooney-Cross and forward Kaitlyn Forde as they are rested during the extended international break following Australia’s poor performance in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup. Team captain Leah Williamson also dropped out of contention.
Chelsea team news: Yes, this Blues team is extremely tired, the roster is getting thinner by the day, and there are key injuries everywhere. That doesn’t mean such a team should fail like they did in the second half of last weekend’s 1-1 draw with London City, which might well have been a defeat if Hannah Hampton hadn’t made some crucial saves.
Unfortunately for us and head coach Sonia Bompast, captain Millie Bright is not ready to return to the pitch. The same goes for defender Ellie Carpenter and forward Sam Kerr, who have just returned to England from coaching the Australian national team. Aggie Beever-Jones left the game early last Saturday with a bruise and may be fit to play.
Before: Mayra Ramírez and Sandy Baltimore impressed in the 2-1 win over the WSL at the Emirates Stadium.
