Arsenal Ladies manager Laura Harvey yesterday bemoaned her side's injury crisis, which sees them almost down to the bare bones just two games into the FA WSL season.
By David Brenchley
The Gunners defeated Chelsea 3-1 at the Emirates Stadium last night thanks to goals from Kim Little (2) and stand in captain Katie Chapman in front of a WSL record crowd of 5,052.
But if there were any disappointments for the reigning champions it was the addition of Jayne Ludlow to their growing injury list and the prospect of Emma Byrne joining in the near future.
Ludlow was taken out of the starting line up at the eleventh hour due to a calf strain while keeper Byrne has a knee injury which is being "managed" due to their lack of a senior back up.
Second choice stopper Becky Spencer left in the summer to join Birmingham, in search of first team football, meaning their only back up is 17-year-old Sophie Harris, who was on the bench yesterday.
After the game, Harvey said: "[Byrne's injury] is a weird one. It's nothing that is acute, it's something that has built up.
"We haven't got anything apart from kids [for back up] so we have to manage Emma as much as we possibly can.
"Becky has been brilliant for us as a second choice keeper but she wants to play football and I appreciate that.
"But sod's law, Emma's never been injured in eleven years, Becky goes and within three months Emma gets an injury. She is manageable at the minute but some of the others ones aren't."
Harvey confirmed Ludlow is likely to miss the FA Cup semi final re-match with Chelsea at Griffin Park on Sunday while Kelly Smith and Ellen White both remain long-term absentees.
Furthermore, experienced players Faye White and Julie Fleeting are expecting their first and second childs respectively.
After an even first half the two sides went into the interval level, thanks mainly to Byrne's opposite number Carly Telford.
The Blues skipper made some excellent saves, one in particular standing out - a double save from a Katie Chapman header and Danielle Carter follow up.
It came at a cost though and Telford was substituted at half time and ended the night on crutches.
Replacement Sarah Quantrill's first act was to pick the ball out of the net after Kim Little's 47th minute opener but, despite conceding two further goals, she still impressed, making.
The hosts doubled their advantage through a Chapman header but an excellent curling equaliser from Kate Longhurst gave the visitors hope with 15 minutes to play.
Despite a good spell for Chelsea, Quantrill still kept them in with a shout, Pushing a Steph Houghton shot wide of the post and tipping a Little curler over brilliantly.
The Scottish midfielder finished the job in extra time, though, after a good run and pass from Gemma Davison.
