Summary

  • FT: Arsenal 1-0 Chelsea - Stina Blackstenius breaks deadlock in extra time

  • Gunners win back-to-back League Cups after beating Chelsea 3-1 in the 2023 final

  • Match delayed for seven minutes as Arsenal midfielder Frida Maanum collapses

  • Gunners say Maanum 'conscious, talking and in stable condition'

  • Mayra Ramirez first-half goal ruled out by VAR for Erin Cuthbert handball in build-up

  1. Byepublished at 18:41 British Summer Time 31 March

    That's all from us tonight.

    Thanks for joining us as Arsenal were crowned Women's League Cup champions.

    We're heading into the international break where there's some crucial Euro 2025 qualifiers.

    See you then.

  2. Read the match reportpublished at 18:40 British Summer Time 31 March

    FT: Arsenal 1-0 Chelsea

    Emma Smith
    BBC Sport at Molineux

    .Image source, Getty Images

    Stina Blackstenius scored a 116th-minute winner as Arsenal beat Chelsea in the Continental Cup final.

    Blackstenius fashioned space in the Chelsea area to settle a tense encounter with a low strike that Chelsea keeper Hannah Hampton could not keep out.

    It sees Arsenal retain the title, beating Chelsea just as they did last year.

    On a dramatic and emotional day, Arsenal midfielder Frida Maanum was carried from the field on a stretcher at the end of normal time after collapsing.

    Chelsea, whose dreams of being the first English women's side to win four trophies in a season since Arsenal in 2007 have been dashed, appeared to have taken the lead on 21 minutes through Mayra Ramirez's 25-yard drive before it was ruled out for handball.

    Read the full report here.

  3. 'We wanted to do this for Frida'published at 18:37 British Summer Time 31 March

    FT: Arsenal 1-0 Chelsea

    Arsenal

    Arsenal goalscorer Stina Blackstenius, speaking to BBC Sport: "I'm really really happy about the win. It was a long game, a tough game but we got a win in the end and now we can celebrate with the fans."

    On her goal: "I remember Caitlin [Foord] played it in, I got a touch on it and suddenly the ball was in front of me and I could finish. Happy abou that."

    On her emotions after Frida Maanum's collapse: "It's always really hard. She's a teammate and a friend to all of us. We care so much about her. You worry a bit when stuff like this happens. We said we wanted to do this for her, to get this win for her because she couldn't be with us at that point."

    On whether she has seen Frida yet: "I will go and see if I can see her after now."

    On the importance of delivering silverware for Arsenal this season: "It means a lot for us, we're happy about this title."

    On whether she'll have time to celebrate: "I hope so. We have something to celebrate so I hope we will do something with the team."

  4. 'I can't really take it seriously'published at 18:34 British Summer Time 31 March

    FT: Arsenal 1-0 Chelsea

    Arsenal

    Arsenal manager Jonas Eidevall, speaking to BBC Sport: "We talk as a team about being able to perform in high-pressure situations. I think the answer is to be prepared for situations, situations, situations. We had plans, we adapted as a team, and that's how we came off."

    On how much the players will be able to celebrate: "Not a lot, I don't think a lot. They have really important national team games coming up as well. We must make sure they get another opportunity to celebrate this victory."

    On Emma Hayes talking about 'male aggression': "Mmm... Okay. My word on what was happening would be that before the game we had a discussion between the clubs about whether to use one ball or multi-ball system.

    "In this situation, Arsenal said multi-ball, Chelsea said one ball. The decision was to play the final on a one ball system. The ball goes out of play, the Chelsea player wants a new ball to take a quick throw-in and I said 'we play with only one ball and you guys were the ones who decided that'.

    "Obviously it now drives all kinds of emotions in there, nothing more, nothing less. I can't see that I did anything, had any form of contact with anyone - either a player or a coach. That was it."

    On how it feels to be called an 'aggressor': "To be honest I can't really take it seriously. I can't really take it seriously."

  5. 'There's a way to behave on the side of the pitch'published at 18:30 British Summer Time 31 March

    FT: Arsenal 1-0 Chelsea

    Chelsea

    Chelsea boss Emma Hayes speaking to BBC Sport: "It’s a tough loss. There was nothing between the two teams, I didn’t think it was a high quality game to be honest with you. They took their chance and they are winners.

    "I don’t make excuses. We had a big chance to win it right before the end and didn’t take it. They took theirs and I can’t ask for any more from the players. They gave their all today and it was a big effort from them. Congratulations to Arsenal."

    On what happened to Frida Maanum: "Player welfare comes first every time. I really hope she’s ok. It’s always worrying when that happens."

    On the altercation with Jonas Eidevall: "I think there’s a way to behave on the side of the pitch and not for the first time, I’ve been in women’s football a long time and I don’t think we should tolerate male aggression like we did today.

    "Fronting up or squaring up to a player is something that’s unacceptable. I’ve never been booked in 12 years of my career but I think there’s a way to behave on the touchline. He received a yellow card but perhaps should have been more."

  6. 'The celebrations will be wild for the staff!published at 18:26 British Summer Time 31 March

    FT: Arsenal 1-0 Chelsea

    Arsenal

    More from Arsenal manager Jonas Eidevall, speaking to BBC Sport on delivering silverware with Arsenal: "It comes with the job. When you coach certain clubs, they expect to win something and that's not only Arsenal. The hard thing is that there are a number of clubs that sort of expect you to win silverware but not all clubs can win so for us doing it now twice in a row. It's good but we want even more."

    On Frida Maanum: "I think we trust our medical team, we got really good information from them as well."

    On the post-match celebrations: "I hope wild [celebrations] and probably much wilder for staff because the players have international break coming up on Monday but I do not!"

  7. 'So proud of the team'published at 18:23 British Summer Time 31 March

    FT: Arsenal 1-0 Chelsea

    Arsenal

    Arsenal midfielder Victoria Pelova speaking to BBC Sport: "I just feel cramp. I couldn't walk anymore. I'm so proud of the team."

    On winning the trophy again: "It feels so good, it's so good with the fans. She [Alessia Russo] was ill for two days and she played."

  8. 'The fact Arsenal have won some silverware this season is a huge positive'published at 18:20 British Summer Time 31 March

    FT: Arsenal 1-0 Chelsea

    Fara Williams
    Former England midfielder on BBC Two

    The fact Arsenal have managed to win some silverware this season is a huge positive.

    Going through the season without silverware would have made it so hard for the players and Jonas Eidevall to come back from next season.

    They can still fight for the title. There are six points in it between them and Chelsea and City, so they can still fight. Do I think they will win it? No. But they are still just about in it.

  9. 'Just in the heat of the moment'published at 18:17 British Summer Time 31 March

    FT: Arsenal 1-0 Chelsea

    Arsenal

    Arsenal manager Jonas Eidevall speaking to BBC Sport: "Very happy with the performance. The first half was for the coaches and the second half was for the fans and the audience.

    "We fight hard and of course I'm happy that we are on the better side of it today."

    On the confrontation with Emma Hayes: "Not much. We had a discussion before the game where both teams have to agree on whether they are going to play with multi-ball system or not.

    "Chelsea said they wanted to play with one ball and we said we wanted to play with multi-ball and then when it suits them in the last few minutes of the game, they want to take another ball to take a quick throw in and I only said "you guys wanted to play with one ball."

    "So, it's not my problem. It's all good I think, it's just in the heat of the moment."

  10. 'Blackstenius will be delighted'published at 18:15 British Summer Time 31 March

    FT: Arsenal 1-0 Chelsea

    Ellen White
    Former England striker on BBC Two

    She is Arsenal's top scorer and she's the top goal scorer in the League Cup as well. She'll be delighted with her finish. When the moment mattered she came up top trumps for Arsenal and finished it well to be honest.

  11. Blackstenius nets winner late onpublished at 18:13 British Summer Time 31 March

    FT: Arsenal 1-0 Chelsea

    Here's the winning moment.

    Media caption,

    FA Women's League Cup: Stina Blackstenius breaks deadlock in extra time as Arsenal lead

  12. 'Chelsea looked tired today'published at 18:11 British Summer Time 31 March

    FT: Arsenal 1-0 Chelsea

    Fara Williams
    Former England midfielder on BBC Two

    These Chelsea players looked a little bit tired today. In key moments when they got in the final third, sometimes their decision making wasn't quite right. That sometimes happens when you have that bit of mental fatigue.

    Maybe in extra time Arsenal had that bit more of emotion with the incident that happened with Frida Maanum. It looked like they had that extra edge and wanted to go out there and not only win it for themselves but go on and win it for her.

  13. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 18:09 British Summer Time 31 March

    #bbcfootball, text 81111 (UK only - standard rates apply) or WhatsApp 03301231826

    Lack of class from Emma Hayes, especially after one of our players collapsed on the pitch. Hope they lose all their remaining trophies.

    Martin

    Anne: I love Emma Hayes but she's come across as a sore loser.

  14. 'Eidevall is always trying to push the players'published at 18:08 British Summer Time 31 March

    FT: Arsenal 1-0 Chelsea

    Anita Asante
    Former England defender on BBC Two

    For me, Jonas [Eidevall], when I played under him, he has got a bit of edge, a bit of intensity, we saw that on the sidelines. He is always there trying to push the players and motivate them.

    A game like this matters to both managers. It's a part of their personality and character and sometimes it can spill over slightly but it's all in the intention of winning.

  15. Postpublished at 18:07 British Summer Time 31 March

    FT: Arsenal 1-0 Chelsea

    Leah Williamson and Kim Little lift the trophy together and pour champagne over their team-mates.

    Unsurprisingly, Katie McCabe is in their first.

    Arsenal lift the trophyImage source, Getty Images
  16. Postpublished at 18:05 British Summer Time 31 March

    FT: Arsenal 1-0 Chelsea

    Chelsea's players and manager Emma Hayes collect their runners-up medals and now it's Arsenal's turn to collect their winners' medals.

  17. 'Means so much'published at 18:04 British Summer Time 31 March

    FT: Arsenal 1-0 Chelsea

    Ellen White
    Former England striker on BBC Two

    To win this for the second year in a row means so much to this club. They've done it for the fans, for [Frida] Maanum, the team, the staff - for everyone associated with this football club.

    ArsenalImage source, Getty Images
  18. 'Winning trophies is in the club's DNA'published at 18:01 British Summer Time 31 March

    FT: Arsenal 1-0 Chelsea

    Arsenal

    Arsenal forward Alessia Russo speaking to BBC Sport: "It means everything to win and celebrate with the fans. This season has been pretty high and pretty low but we had the chance to win some sort of trophy this year and that's what we did today."

    On the incident with Frida Maanum: "Obviously it is devastating seeing one of your teammates go down like that and we hope that she is ok.

    "I think it was written in the stars that her best mate went and scored the winner for her.

    "Frida is a massive player and plays with every single bit of her body, she did that again today and we just hope she is ok."

    On the pressure before the game to win today: "It is massive. We know that winning trophies is part of this club's DNA. We want to keep pushing the bar, pushing standards and keep winning trophies."

  19. Postpublished at 18:00 British Summer Time 31 March

    FT: Arsenal 1-0 Chelsea (AET)

    Emma Smith
    BBC Sport at Molineux

    That was an intense release of emotion from the Arsenal players, staff, fans and manager at full time.

    Given the events of today, and the pressure on Jonas Eidevall after a slightly disappointing season, you could see how much it meant to him.

  20. 'Written in the stars'published at 17:59 British Summer Time 31 March

    FT: Arsenal 1-0 Chelsea

    Arsenal

    Arsenal striker Alessia Russo to BBC Sport: "It's devastating to see a teammate go down like that. I think it was written in the stars that her best mate went and scored the winner for her."