Chelsea saw off Arsenal in a dominant display in the delayed final to last season’s FA Cup to win their first domestic treble.
Emma Hayes’ side, who also won the Women’s Super League title and League Cup last season, were deserved winners in front of 40,942 fans at Wembley on the 50th anniversary of the competition.
England international Fran Kirby put down an early marker, capitalising on a mistake at the back to net within three minutes, and Sam Kerr scored a brace in the second half to seal Chelsea’s victory.
Chelsea were utterly dominant – Sam Kerr and Kirby both hit the woodwork, while Arsenal goalkeeper Manuela Zinsberger made numerous saves, particularly in the first half.
The Blues were frustrated not to be further ahead at the break but they made sure of victory shortly afterwards when Kerr teased defender Lotte Wubben-Moy before sliding it into the bottom corner in the 57th minute.
The Australian international, who had lifted it on to the crossbar in the first half, then made it 3-0 with an audacious chip and celebrated just as coolly, flapping her hand to signal how hot it was before sticking her tongue out playfully to the crowd.
Arsenal – the record 14-time winners of the FA Cup – were second-best throughout and despite a slight improvement in the second half, produced a performance which was a far cry from their domestic form this season.
The victory was Chelsea’s third in an FA Cup final and all three of their titles have come under Hayes’ guidance.
Chelsea’s Kerr too hot to handleChelsea’s defeat to Arsenal at the Emirates in their opening WSL game of the season remains their only loss and they were clearly keen to make amends at Wembley.
From the first minute they pressed with intensity and Kerr’s runs in behind immediately caused problems for Arsenal’s back four.
Kirby silenced the Arsenal fans in the crowd within three minutes when she pounced on a mix-up and raced through on goal to fire in the opener.
She ran to the corner with her arms outstretched, sending Chelsea fans into a frenzy, and Arsenal never really recovered.
By the time Arsenal won their first corner in the 15th minute, Kerr had been denied in a one-on-one and a last-ditch interception from Jennifer Beattie had prevented Kirby from sliding in a second.
Zinsberger’s heroics kept Arsenal within reach at the break despite Kerr and Kirby both hitting the woodwork but Chelsea came out firing again in the second half, with Kerr eventually getting her reward.
Her second goal was stunning – even Kerr herself thought so judging by her celebration – and she was deservedly given a standing ovation when substituted late-on.
With the two sides going head-to-head for this season’s WSL title as well, Chelsea’s dominant victory was a humbling reminder to Arsenal of what it will take to steal the crown from them.
But they will enjoy this victory first. Hayes was the first to collect her medal before staff ran across to spray champagne over the players as they lifted the trophy.
In typical fashion, Kerr draped herself in the remains of the silver confetti before players posed for pictures with the trophy and fans waved flags behind the goal.
Stunned Arsenal comfortably beaten Arsenal have won a record 14 Women’s FA Cups, while this was Chelsea’s third titleIt was the worst possible start for Arsenal.
Kirby’s early goal stunned Wembley and the Arsenal players, who gave the ball away on countless occasions in the first half.
The defence was run ragged by Kerr, Kirby and Erin Cuthbert in particular and, were it not for several big saves from Zinsberger, Arsenal could have been 5-0 down at half-time.
Goalkeeper Zinsberger could not hide her frustrations – smacking the post in anger and screaming at her team-mates after tipping Kirby’s effort on to the post following a cut-back from Kerr.
And manager Jonas Eidevall was agitated on the touchline, often pacing from side-to-side and speaking frantically with his coaching staff. At one point he even held up notes to his attacking players and applauded them for responding with a successful high-press.
The absence of Leah Williamson at the back was evident and while in-form forward Beth Mead dazzled the crowd in bursts, she could not carry her team over the line.
In the end, Arsenal were lucky to go in at the break only one goal down but it felt like it would be only a matter of time before Chelsea began putting their chances away.
Kerr did just that, wounding Arsenal after the break and the Gunners never responded. The league leaders will have to pick themselves up quickly as there is a WSL title to be won, with Chelsea once again standing in their way.
Player of the match
KirbyFran Kirby
with an average of 9.07
Arsenal WomenSquad number1Player nameZinsberger
Squad number9Player nameMead
Squad number11Player nameMiedema
Squad number10Player nameLittle
Squad number15Player nameMcCabe
Squad number16Player nameMaritz
Squad number7Player nameCatley
Squad number13Player nameWälti
Squad number5Player nameBeattie
Squad number12Player nameMaanum
Squad number3Player nameWubben-Moy
Squad number23Player nameIwabuchi
Squad number19Player nameFoord
Squad number20Player nameBoye Sørensen
Squad number14Player nameParris
Chelsea WomenSquad number14Player nameKirby
Squad number20Player nameKerr
Squad number22Player nameCuthbert
Squad number8Player nameLeupolz
Squad number16Player nameEriksson
Squad number7Player nameCarter
Squad number11Player nameReiten
Squad number5Player nameIngle
Squad number17Player nameFleming
Squad number4Player nameBright
Squad number23Player nameHarder
Squad number30Player nameBerger
Squad number24Player nameSpence
Squad number9Player nameEngland
Squad number3Player nameNouwen
Squad number10Player nameJi So-Yun
Line-upsArsenal WomenFormation 4-2-3-1
1Zinsberger
16Maritz3Wubben-Moy5Beattie7Catley
13Wälti12Maanum
9Mead10Little15McCabe
11Miedema
1Zinsberger16Maritz3Wubben-MoySubstituted forBoye Sørensenat 87’minutes5BeattieSubstituted forFoordat 70’minutes7Catley13WältiSubstituted forIwabuchiat 61’minutes12MaanumSubstituted forParrisat 80’minutesBooked at 81mins9MeadBooked at 7mins10Little15McCabeBooked at 65mins11MiedemaSubstitutes4Patten8Nobbs14Parris18Williams19Foord20Boye Sørensen22Schnaderbeck23Iwabuchi29GoldieChelsea WomenFormation 3-4-3
30Berger
4Bright7Carter16Eriksson
22Cuthbert5Ingle8Leupolz11Reiten
17Fleming20Kerr14Kirby
30Berger4Bright7Carter16Eriksson22CuthbertBooked at 44mins5IngleSubstituted forNouwenat 90+4’minutes8LeupolzSubstituted forJiat 86’minutes11ReitenSubstituted forSpenceat 87’minutes17Fleming20KerrSubstituted forEnglandat 86’minutes14KirbySubstituted forHarderat 74’minutesSubstitutes1Musovic3Nouwen9England10Ji21Charles23Harder24Spence25Andersson29FoxReferee:Helen Conley
Attendance:40,942
Live TextMatch ends, Arsenal Women 0, Chelsea Women 3.
Second Half ends, Arsenal Women 0, Chelsea Women 3.
Substitution, Chelsea Women. Aniek Nouwen replaces Sophie Ingle.
Corner, Arsenal Women. Conceded by Jessica Carter.
Foul by Katie McCabe (Arsenal Women).
Drew Spence (Chelsea Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution, Arsenal Women. Simone Boye Sørensen replaces Lotte Wubben-Moy.
Substitution, Chelsea Women. Drew Spence replaces Guro Reiten.
Substitution, Chelsea Women. Ji So-Yun replaces Melanie Leupolz.
Substitution, Chelsea Women. Bethany England replaces Sam Kerr.
Attempt missed. Vivianne Miedema (Arsenal Women) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Katie McCabe with a cross.
Offside, Chelsea Women. Sophie Ingle tries a through ball, but Sam Kerr is caught offside.
Attempt missed. Jessie Fleming (Chelsea Women) left footed shot from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Pernille Harder with a cross.
Nikita Parris (Arsenal Women) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul by Nikita Parris (Arsenal Women).
Guro Reiten (Chelsea Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution, Arsenal Women. Nikita Parris replaces Frida Maanum.
Attempt blocked. Katie McCabe (Arsenal Women) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Corner, Arsenal Women. Conceded by Ann-Katrin Berger.
Attempt blocked. Beth Mead (Arsenal Women) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Kim Little.