‘Embarrassing!’ – Arsenal wear Chelsea socks from club shop in WSL match after bizarre kit clash delays kick off
Arsenal had to wear socks hastily bought from the Chelsea club shop.
The Women’s Super League match between Chelsea and Arsenal was delayed by 30 minutes after a bizarre kit clash at Stamford Bridge.
Emma Hayes’ side were hosting Arsenal in west London with kick-off scheduled for 7pm on Friday night.
That was pushed back by half an hour however with match officials unhappy with the away side’s socks, judging them to be too similar to Chelsea’s.
Both Chelsea and the Gunners warmed up for the match in white socks, something only spotted by a match official moments before kick-off.
It prompted a quick search for replacements with Arsenal eventually getting the match underway in black socks.
Sky Sports report a member of the Arsenal staff had to make a quick dash to the club shop at Stamford Bridge to buy a set for the whole team.
Arsenal reportedly had to tape over the Nike logo, Chelsea’s kit sponsor, on each pair of socks before heading back out onto the pitch.
Arsenal legend Ian Wright, in attendance on Friday night, labelled the fiasco ‘ridiculous’ and ‘embarrassing’.
Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra, former Wales striker Helen Ward said of the delay: ‘I’m sure it has happened in the men’s game as well but when this happens on such a high-profile game in the WSL, a game that’s live on TV, a game that’s got a near sell-out crowd, it doesn’t help those that still want to put it down. It’s silly little things that make a massive impact.
‘It’s such a small thing but it’s made such a big impact.’
When the action eventually got underway, Chelsea took the lead after 15 minutes with Lauren James turning her marker to fire past Manuela Zinsberger, who should have done better to keep the effort out of the Arsenal goal.
The hosts doubled their lead six minutes later through Sjoeke Nusken who diverted a shot from teammate Erin Cuthbert home from close range.
Chelsea had another before the half-time whistle with Nusken getting her second of the evening.
Arsenal pulled one back late on with Kim Little’s strike taking a deflection on its way to the back of the net.
Victory sees the Blues go three points clear at the top of the Women’s Super League.
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