Emma Hayes refuses to ‘kick in’ on Arsenal kitman after sock clash match is postponed
EMMA HAYES dismissed the mistake in Arsenal’s kit clash as “a serious mistake” after Chelsea sent off the Gunners.
Lauren James and Sjoeke Nusken starred as the Blues beat their title rivals 3-1 after a 30-minute delay in kick-off.
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Initially, everything seemed to be going smoothly in the build-up to Friday night’s clash, with 32,970 people watching Hayes’ final WSL match at Stamford Bridge.
But the match was unexpectedly disrupted due to a kit clash with both sides wearing the same color socks.
Before kick-off, Arsenal’s players put on the white and red socks they wore with their home kit
And they were featured in it during the warm-up prior to the match’s scheduled start at 7 p.m.
But three minutes before the game started, the visitors were told they were not allowed to wear them.
This was because the color clashed with the socks worn by their hosts.
The scenario required the Gunners to purchase Chelsea’s blue and black away boots from the club’s store.
But the north London giants had to cover the Nike logo on the socks with gray tape because the club was sponsored by Adidas.
The clothing dispute sparked a stunned reaction among some observers, with former Chelsea chief executive Karen Carney describing the scenario as “embarrassing”.
However, Hayes insisted it was a “serious mistake” and hopes the Arsenal kitman is not thrown under the bus.
The Blues chief said: “Because of who I am, I’m not going to throw the equipment guy under the bus. He’s going to feel terrible tonight.
“It’s a mistake anyway, he’s new in this position. It happened.
“If we had had blue socks, and if this had been an away game, we would have had white and blue socks.
“But because it was a home game, we knew three weeks in advance that we would wear white socks, we are the home team.
“But because we didn’t have blue, I couldn’t just say don’t worry about it, we’ll put on the blue socks because we didn’t have them.
“We are also at a time – and God knows why – when they have taken everything out. There’s a whole process to all that.
“It is a serious mistake. I’m certainly not going to target him.”
The hosts needed just thirty-two minutes to race into a 3-0 lead, resulting in a six-point lead over the Gunners in the league.
Arsenal were at times overwhelmed by the efficient combination of James, Nusken and Johanna Rytting Kaneryd.
On the Gunners wearing Chelsea socks, Hayes added: “I was delighted when I saw lion heads on Arsenal’s legs in the first half.
“Maybe that gave my players motivation, I don’t know.”
Before the match, Hayes said she demanded a “Chelsea standard” performance from her side
And that’s exactly what she got when the team was 3-0 up after 32 minutes.
Lauren James opened the scoring with 13e goal in 14 top games this season.
The forward ran onto Nusken’s pass and misplaced her markers, shooting over goalkeeper Manuela Zinsberger in the 15th minute.
The visitors’ difficult start was made worse when Nusken fired the ball past Arsenal’s shot-stopper just six minutes later.
And the Gunners were caught out again when Rytting Kaneryd pounced on the ball after Leah Williamson’s free-kick before making a powerful run into the box.
And her attempt was deflected home via Nusken.
In the second half, Alessia Russo, Frida Maanum and Emily Fox were introduced in place of Steph Catley, Victoria Pelova and Stina Blackstenius.
They had a free-kick fired to Hannah Hampton with 29 minutes of normal time, shortly before James forced an impressive save from Zinsberger.
The visitors received a late consolation when Kim Little’s goal was deflected off Catarina Macario.
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But the WSL leaders held on to seal victory, denting Arsenal’s title hopes.
Gunners boss Jonas Eidevall said: “We should be unhappy with the way we performed as a team because that is not our level.
“I have to take responsibility for that, we have to learn from that and we have to go next week.”