Leah Williamson. Picture: THE FA Via Getty Images

Published: 16 April, 2015
by CATHERINE ETOE

THE old adage of football being a game of two halves was writ large for Arsenal Ladies players this week when they experienced dramatic highs and desperate lows all in the space of three days. 

On Thursday, midfielder Jordan Nobbs oversaw an England win over China after proudly leading her country out in Manchester wearing the captain’s armband for the first time ever on home soil. 

On the same evening in Belfast, fellow Gunner Leah Williamson kept a cool head to score one of the most bizarre penalties in history to see England Under-19s through to the European Championships. 

Yet both players, along with four more of England’s Gunners contingent, suffered agonies on Sunday when their dreams of defending Arsenal’s Women’s FA Cup crown at a Wembley showpiece final in August were shattered by Chelsea. 

The Blues, managed by former Arsenal assistant coach Emma Hayes , knocked the Gunners out of the cup in a 2-1 quarter-final victory in front of almost 1,000 fans at Meadow Park. 

Ironically, Chelsea’s goals were scored by former Arsenal stars and current England players Katie Chapman and Gemma Davison. 

It was a fluke of fate that was later acknowledged by striker Davison, a self-confessed Arsenal fan. “To come here and win,it’s obviously great because I’m wearing a Chelsea shirt, but it’s hard as I do love Arsenal,” she said ruefully. 

Chelsea will now face Manchester City in the semi-final, while Arsenal’s England stars Nobbs and Williamson can at least look back on a job well done on Thursday. 

Jordan Nobbs. Picture: Catherine Etoe.

Nobbs created one goal and worked her socks off in a 2-1 win over China at Man City Women’s Academy Stadium – England’s final home friendly before the FIFA World Cup in Canada in June. 

Gunners Siobhan Chamberlain, Alex Scott and Nobbs all started for Mark Sampson’s side, with their club colleagues Casey Stoney and Lianne Sanderson coming on as second-half substitutes. 

Sampson will name his 23-woman squad for the prestigious tournament in May – and all five Arsenal players will hope to make the grade. 

For 18-year-old Williamson, a place at the Under-19s Euros in July must surely be assured after her rave performance in a qualifier against Norway that lasted just 16 seconds. 

The two sides had met on Saturday when Williamson had had an injury-time penalty ruled out for encroachment. But rather than order a retake, Norway were incorrectly awarded a free kick and England lost 2-1.

That decision was overturned on appeal with UEFA ordering an unprecedented replay of the last 16 seconds of the match five days later, kicking off with the penalty.

Williamson could have stepped aside and given the job to another player but the skipper gallantly held her nerve and coolly scored to make the final result 2-2. 

England boss Sampson said afterwards: “The fact that Leah got up and scored speaks volumes for her personality. We know she is a wonderful talent so I’m delighted for the team and Leah.”