Sock Mishap Delays Women's Super League Match Between Chelsea and Arsenal

The Women’s Super League (WSL) match between Chelsea and Arsenal on Friday faced a delay of half an hour. This happened because the Gunners had to switch their socks as they were the same color as Chelsea's.

At the start, both teams were wearing white socks, which goes against the rule that states each team should have different colored socks. Since Arsenal was the visiting team, they had to quickly find black socks from Chelsea’s store and cover up the branding with tape.

Once the game kicked off, Chelsea solidified their position as the top team in the league by defeating Arsenal 3-1. The match took place in front of the largest crowd ever at Stamford Bridge for a women's soccer game.

The snafu resulted in kickoff being delayed by half an hour.

The snafu resulted in kickoff being delayed by half an hour.

Justin Setterfield/Getty Images

Arsenal manager Jonas Eidevall admitted to broadcaster We that he was puzzled by his players wearing the wrong socks. He mentioned that the delay didn't impact their performance as it was the same for both teams.

Star forward Lauren James scored first for Chelsea in the 14th minute. She skillfully maneuvered past two defenders and shot the ball towards Arsenal goalkeeper Manuela Zinsberger. Despite her attempt to block it, the ball looped over her and found its way into the net.

Six minutes later, Sjoeke Nüsken extended Chelsea's lead by scoring a goal from Cuthbert's pass in the box. Nüsken then scored another goal before halftime, deflecting Johanna Rytting Kaneryd's shot with her back to make it 3-0 for Chelsea.

Chelsea eventually won 3-1 to edge ahead in the Women's Super League title race.

Chelsea eventually won 3-1 to edge ahead in the Women's Super League title race.

Alex Burstow/Arsenal FC/Arsenal FC via Getty Images

Arsenal scored a consolation goal in the 86th minute, but they couldn't mount a late offensive.

After the match, Chelsea manager Emma Hayes commended her team's strong performance. However, she also expressed feeling "gutted" for Arsenal's kit man.

Hayes expressed sympathy for him, acknowledging that it is easy to criticize but she feels sorry for him because they are new to the team and this is probably not what he wanted. She mentioned that if there was a need for a change of socks, she would have taken care of it.

Despite the incident, Hayes reassured that it did not affect the team at all. She praised the girls for delivering the exact performance she was hoping for, describing their performance as magnificent.

Editor's P/S:

The Women's Super League match between Chelsea and Arsenal was marked by a curious delay due to a sock mix-up. While the incident may seem amusing, it highlights the importance of attention to detail in professional sports. The rule requiring contrasting sock colors ensures fair play and avoids confusion on the field, especially during intense matches.

Arsenal's quick response in finding alternative socks and covering up branding demonstrates the team's professionalism and adaptability. Additionally, the match itself showcased the growing popularity of women's football, with a record-breaking crowd at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea's dominant performance and Arsenal's resilience indicate the high level of competition in the WSL. Despite the initial setback, both teams displayed their determination and skill, providing an entertaining spectacle for the fans.