Chelsea target unbeaten season after 'perfect' day

Chelsea "want to go the season unbeaten", says defender Lucy Bronze, after victory over title rivals Arsenal strengthened their position at the top of the Women's Super League table.

The Blues have won 11 of their 12 matches in the WSL this season, and also booked their spot in the Women's Champions League knockout stages, reached the Women's League Cup semi-finals and will play in the fifth round of the Women's FA Cup.

Manager Sonia Bompastor is yet to lose a game in any competition since taking over from Emma Hayes in the summer.

"We're trying to win four trophies and that's difficult," Bronze told BBC Two after their 1-0 win over Arsenal, which temporarily took them nine points clear at the top of the WSL before Manchester United's win on Sunday evening cut their lead to seven.

"We wanted to get a good stretch of points [to be in a good position] when we're in the thick of it in March, April and May. It's difficult [then] and you might drop points but we're in a good place now and we're on the up. We want to go the season unbeaten.

"There's records out there to break. Chelsea's a team that has always wanted to do that.

"We've never clinched the Champions League. We've got five league titles in a row but [going] unbeaten [would be] unbelievable. We're on a good road to doing that."

'You never know what can happen'

Sonia Bompastor has won 11 of her 12 WSL matches in charge of Chelsea

Chelsea have gone unbeaten in the WSL on two occasions in 2017-18 and 2019-20, while Arsenal did the same in 2012-13.

The only English team not to lose in all competitions in the modern era was Arsenal in 2006-2007, when they won the quadruple.

That is an achievement Chelsea hope to replicate but Bompastor was quick to mention that they have "not won anything yet" despite having a healthy lead in the WSL.

"That [going unbeaten] is not what I'm thinking at the moment. I'm really pleased with the result. As you could see in the game, it was really fine margins," she said.

"These performances are on the edge. It can go one way or the other but it went our way, which I'm really pleased with.

"We just want to take it game by game, making sure we make the right decisions to bring great results. We are far away yet from winning something."

There were celebrations at full-time from Chelsea's players and staff as Bompastor revealed she granted them an extra day off following a "perfect" afternoon.

Fans also left Stamford Bridge with a buzz after the club unveiled women's world-record signing Naomi Girma before the match.

"It was the perfect afternoon in terms of that announcement and the result. It's great news for all the Chelsea fans," said Bompastor.

"I would say in terms of psychological elements, [the victory is] huge for sure, but you know we have a lot of games to be played.

"The Champions League will be coming in March and we'll have to play really big games. It will not be easy.

"If we keep the right mentality, if we keep almost all the players available, then yeah, we are in a good position - but you never know what can happen in football."

'Mountain to climb' but 'strong foundations'

Arsenal are now 10 points off leaders Chelsea in the WSL table

While Chelsea's quadruple hopes build, defeat all-but ends Arsenal's WSL title challenge.

With a 10-point gap to bridge, manager Renee Slegers admitted it was a "bigger mountain to climb" but there remains a glimmer of hope.

"We are very aware of that. We had our slips at the start of the season and you never know when other teams are going to slip," she added.

"We will keep on playing our games and winning our games, that is all we can do.

"We knew it was important for us if we wanted to keep sparks in the title race to win and we didn't do that – but you never know what the future holds."

It was an unfamiliar feeling of defeat for Slegers having gone 13 games unbeaten in all competitions since taking over from Jonas Eidevall.

First as interim, now as permanent manager, Slegers has steadied the ship and Arsenal had built momentum prior to Sunday's trip across London.

While disappointed with the result, Slegers said she saw plenty of positive signs for the future.

"Of course I'm very happy with the run so far having not lost a game. That says something about where we are at as a team," said Slegers.

"I just think we played against a top team and it was a very tight game which could have gone one way or the other.

"We have a strong enough foundation. I feel that and the players do as well I think. This doesn't define us. Of course I'm very disappointed as we wanted to win.

"I felt we were close enough to get something out of it but we will have to move on from here."