Chelsea’s depth makes for one-sided WSL title race and Girma only makes it better

LONDON — Advantage Chelsea. We’re only in late January but the Blues’ 1-0 win over Women’s Super League (WSL) title rivals Arsenal on Sunday feels like it has virtually sealed the club’s sixth-consecutive league trophy, with the gap between the two London clubs now 10 points.

It was a must-win game for third-placed Arsenal to keep pace with the champions and have any hope of slowing down a Chelsea side who remain unbeaten in all competitions since Sonia Bompastor’s tenure began in the summer. Whatever happens between Manchester United and Brighton later this weekend, Chelsea are nine points ahead of Manchester City and will remain a minimum of seven clear at the top. With 10 games still left to be played, it will take a lot to stop them now.

Oh and they’ve just signed the world’s best defender, Naomi Girma, for a world-record fee too. So they are only going to get better.

Chelsea’s depth is unmatched

Chelsea’s squad depth is unparalleled. With world-class players in the XI and on the bench, there is not a squad in England that can match the Blues. Realistically, only Champions League holders Barcelona have any rival to their star-studded lineup.

After being ruled out for three months due to a knee injury, Lauren James was brought on in the 56th minute. The fact that Bompastor did not need to rush her star forward back, due to having a plethora of options, is in stark contrast to other clubs in the league who are forced to play key players before they have time to rest and recover.

James has a knack for turning games in Chelsea’s favour. She made the difference here as she won the match-winning penalty after a challenge from Kim Little brought her down, and substitute Guro Reiten scored from the spot, while Arsenal defender Katie McCabe was given two yellow cards in quick succession and sent off for protesting.

The fact that Reiten, the club’s leading scorer with seven goals, was left on the bench until the 78th minute before she secured the decisive goal further highlights just how stacked this Chelsea side are. If the Blues can introduce a gamechanger like James, top scorer Reiten, and pacey young talent Aggie Beever-Jones to close out a game, what hope do the rest have?

Chelsea’s depth will only be extended with the addition of world-record $1.1 million signing Girma, who was unveiled at Stamford Bridge before the game. Chelsea already have the second-best defensive record in the league, conceding only six thus far, but their defence have been shaky at times and the side were rocked by Kadeisha Buchanan’s ACL injury before the winter break.

In the modern game, transfer records are often paid to sign attacking players like wingers or strikers. But with a lack of top-class defenders in the game it’s easy to see why the Blues were willing to hand over such a high figure to sign arguably the best centre-back in the world.

Bompastor confirmed that Girma will not feature in next week’s WSL game against Aston Villa, after not playing since the end of the NWSL season in November, but it is scary to think how deep Chelsea’s squad will be when she is match fit.

Can we even call it a title race?

The term “title race” seems redundant at this stage of the season. Is it still a race if there is only one horse left running? With Chelsea storming ahead already, it would take several losses from Bompastor’s side for City, Arsenal or Man United to close the gap. And, based on their relentlessness so far this season, it seems impossible to bank on this scenario.

Arsenal’s historic unbeaten run in the 2006-07 season, when they achieved an unprecedented Quadruple, stands as one of the finest accomplishments in domestic football. After 44 matches, they racked up 42 wins and two draws, an achievement that now seems almost impossible. But Chelsea are on track to do it.

They’ve only dropped two points — in a 1-1 draw with Leicester City — since the league began in October. After 12 WSL games they have 34 points from a possible 36. The league points record stands at 58, meaning wins in their next eight games would match the record. Winning all remaining 10 games would set a new record of 64.

But for Bompastor to match or even surpass Arsenal’s achievement, it would be nothing short of extraordinary. Given how far the women’s game has grown in recent years, with its competitiveness growing exponentially, it would be pretty incredible. Barcelona achieved the Quadruple last season, winning all three domestic titles in Spain and the Champions League, but were not undefeated as they lost to Chelsea in the first leg of the semifinals.

Chelsea are strong favourites for the WSL and the two remaining domestic cups in England. But the big question now is whether they can claim the Champions League? Bompastor has already conquered the competition as a player and coach with Lyon, but it’s the one prize that’s eluded Chelsea so far, despite their domestic dominance.

Arsenal fail to take their chance

After a tricky opening 15 minutes, Arsenal gave Chelsea a run for their money for 83 minutes and, at times, looked as if they might actually pull ahead at Stamford Bridge. But the north London club failed to take their chances and in the final 10 minutes, the wheels fell off for Renee Slegers’ side.

Mariona Caldentey struggled through the middle, unable to hold off against Chelsea’s stalwart midfield and aggressive press, as the summer signing gave the ball away too many times. In defence, captain Leah Williamson struggled against Mayra Ramírez before the Chelsea striker’s half-time substitution.

Frustrations grew to a boiling point when Caldentey let James progress into the box and Little conceded the penalty. Then McCabe — who has started 27 consecutive games in all competitions since last season — was served two yellow cards in quick succession for dissent, resulting in a suspension that will now see her miss the crucial FA Cup quarterfinal clash against Bristol City.

The Gunners are now 10 points behind Chelsea and it feels like their title charge is well and truly over. Can anyone stop Bompastor’s formidable team? It seems not.