Remember, remember the Fifth of September. Chelsea Women’s first fixture of the new season has been arranged for the Sunday afternoon... at the big stadium, The Emirates.
Arsenal Women have decided to stage the London derby away from Boreham Wood’s ground, to give new manager Jonas Eidevall a big showy start.
The Swede comes up against Emma Hayes and her merry women, including Olympic gold medal winner Jessie Fleming, who has had a remarkable Tokyo experience.
In fact, the only person in women’s football who seems to have made as big an impact in recent weeks has been… Emma Hayes. Her sparky, bubbly and revelatory commentary in the Euros for ITV was one of the high points of that tournament.
Fleming will hope to play a role in the Arsenal match (provisionally fixed for 3pm, though TV demands may change that), as will new signing Lauren James, who has been settling in well as a Chelsea player.
The Blues will be looking to avenge a 2-1 pre-season defeat by the Gunners.
Because the opening weekend of women’s fixtures takes place during an international series for the men, the girls have the TV coverage to themselves, to build on the growing interest in the women’s game.
Arsenal are planning to shift two or three women’s games to the Emirates stadium this season, but Chelsea have not made any similar announcement about using Stamford Bridge on occasions. The home opener, against Everton on 12 September, will be at Kingsmeadow.
Jessie Fleming scored a penalty in normal time to level for Canada in the final of the Olympics women’s football, then converted again in the shoot-out to beat Sweden and leave captain Magda Eriksson with only a silver. Jonna Andersson came on as a sub for Sweden, and missed her spot kick.
Sam Kerr lost out on a bronze after the USA beat Australia 4-3, although Kerr’s goal in the game made her the all-time top striker for the Matildas.
Fleming, Eriksson and Andersson are expected to parade their Olympic medals before the Everton match.
Meanwhile, Chelsea are expected to try out their new yellow away kit when they visit Arsenal... wearing shirts made from recycled plastic bottles.
The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and unless specifically stated are not necessarily those of Hammersmith & Fulham Council.
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