This is a Chelsea predicted lineup for their Conti Cup final clash with Arsenal Women. The Blues have featured in the last four consecutive finals, winning two and losing two. A 3-1 defeat to the Gunners at this stage of last year’s competition is sure to weigh on the minds of the players and manager.
Chelsea Women Predicted Lineup vs Arsenal Women for March 31
How Chelsea Women Have Lined Up Recently
Hannah Hampton and Zećira Mušović have split goalkeeping duties with the former being the clear first choice for the manager. In defence, options have been limited meaning only Ashley Lawrence, Niamh Charles, Jess Carter, Kadeisha Buchanan, and Ève Périsset have featured recently.
Read More: Chelsea Women Predicted Lineup vs Ajax for March 27
With tactical tweaks and rotation, we’ve seen Jelena Čanković, Erin Cuthbert, Sophie Ingle, Melanie Leupolz, and Sjoeke Nüsken have all featured in central midfield/defensive midfield roles. Fran Kirby has also come in as part of a midfield three but usually plays a more attacking role.
Between front two and front four combos we have seen Lauren James, Aggie Beever-Jones, Johanna Rytting Kaneryd, Guro Reiten, and Mayra Ramirez start with Nüsken also playing an advanced role on occasion.
Chelsea Women Recent Form and Tactics
Due to the recent striker shortage, there was some tinkering done to Emma Hayes’ setup. After playing with a 4-2-3-1 for most of the season there was a 4-4-2 and a 4-3-3 used to get the most out of the available attacking options.
Read More: Chelsea Women Predicted Lineup vs West Ham for March 24
The team are on a seven-match unbeaten run, including six wins. Defensively they’ve looked pretty strong with five clean sheets to their name in that stretch. Goals have been easy to come by even with the injuries to forwards as they’ve put three past Ajax, Arsenal, and Leicester in recent outings.
Chelsea Women Injuries to Consider
Hayes provided a relatively cryptic injury update which didn’t name names but clarified the situation at the same time. Everyone available in midweek is still healthy, while those unavailable like Millie Bright, Sam Kerr, Mia Fishel, Ann Katrin-Berger, Aniek Nouwen, Maren Mjelde, and Nathalie Björn won’t be able to feature. Björn is cup-tied as she played in this competition for Everton.
Chelsea Women Predicted Lineup
It is possible we see a fluid 4-2-3-1/out of possession 4-4-2 with James offering support alongside Ramirez and pressing the defense, one will then drop while the other makes runs at the back line. The back five is likely to be the first-choice collection with Lawrence dropped for the more reliable Périsset.
GK – Hannah Hampton
RB – Ève Périsset
CB – Kadeisha Buchanan
CB – Jess Carter
LB – Niamh Charles
DM/CM – Erin Cuthbert
DM/CM – Melanie Leupolz
LM/AM – Guro Reiten
RM/AM – Johanna Rytting Kaneryd
AM/SS – Lauren James
ST – Mayra Ramirez
