Arsenal has secured a place in the UEFA Women's Champions League semi-finals, defeating Chelsea 3-2 on aggregate, despite a 1-0 loss in the second leg of their quarter-final tie.
The victory came amidst controversy, as Chelsea manager Sonia Bompastor voiced strong criticism regarding refereeing decisions and the Video Assistant Referee's (VAR) role following the match.
Match Overview: Gunners Advance Despite Second Leg Loss
Arsenal advanced to the UEFA Women's Champions League semi-finals after a 3-2 aggregate victory over Chelsea. The Gunners had previously won the first leg 3-1 before losing the second leg 1-0 at Stamford Bridge.
In the second leg, Chelsea's Sjoeke Nüsken scored the only goal in injury time. Earlier in the match, Arsenal's Stina Blackstenius had a goal disallowed due to an offside call. Chelsea's Alyssa Thompson also had an additional scoring opportunity, sending the ball over the bar. The match was attended by a home crowd of 16,983 spectators, marking a record for a weekday game.
Arsenal is scheduled to proceed to the semi-finals, where they will face the winner of the quarter-final between Lyon and Wolfsburg.
Refereeing Decisions and Manager's Heated Comments
Chelsea manager Sonia Bompastor voiced strong criticism regarding the refereeing standards in the Champions League following the quarter-final. Bompastor herself received two yellow cards during the second leg.
A central point of contention was an incident involving Arsenal's Katie McCabe and Chelsea's Alyssa Thompson, where McCabe pulled Thompson's hair. Bompastor questioned why the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) did not review this situation, also referring to an earlier incident in the first leg where a Chelsea goal was reportedly disallowed. The referee for the match was Frida Klarlund.
Following the match, Katie McCabe stated that the hair pull was unintentional, explaining she was reaching for Thompson's shirt. Bompastor, however, countered this claim, asserting that the action appeared intentional and warranted a red card.
Financial Context: WSL Agents' Fees See Significant Rise
Financial data released by the Football Association indicated a 75% year-on-year increase in Women's Super League (WSL) spending on agents' fees. Between February 2025 and 2026, WSL clubs collectively spent £3.8 million.
Chelsea was the highest spender, accounting for £1.08 million of this total, while Arsenal was the second-highest at £446,010.
Arsenal Manager Renée Slegers on Future Effort
Arsenal manager Renée Slegers commented that defending their title would require continued effort. She noted that past success serves as inspiration but does not guarantee future performance.