Arsenal Are the Conti Cup champions, coming out on top over Chelsea, 1-0, at the Molineux Stadium after 120 minutes and a goal from Stina Blackstenius.
From a medical scare to tension between the managers, and the fact that outcome means Jonas Eidevall’s side have denied The Blues the chance at the quadruple, it was a dramatic affair all around, here’s why.
Still thinking about Sunday? 😁
Enjoy some of our best shots from the Conti Cup final 👇📸— Arsenal Women (@ArsenalWFC) April 2, 2024
Maanum collapsed, but is now in a stable condition
During the match, there was a stoppage of seven minutes as medical attention was sent on to tend to Frida Maanum, who had collapsed on the pitch in an off the ball incident.
Following a signal from her teammates for paramedics and medical staff, the 24 year old was stretchered off the pitch and the game continued.
Thankfully for all involved, Arsenal’s social media channels confirmed after the game that she was back “conscious, talking and in a stable condition.”
“She will continue to be monitored closely by our medical team,” the statement continued.
“We're all with you, Frida," they added.
Speaking after the win her teammate Alessia Russo was among those to join in the well wishes towards her.
“Obviously it is devastating seeing one of your team-mates go down like that and we hope that she is okay," she said.
"I think it was written in the stars that her best mate (Blackstenius) went and scored the winner for her.
"Frida is a massive player and plays with every single bit of her body. She did that again today and we just hope she is ok."
Similarly, match winner Blackstenius mentioned how it was “really hard” to see Maanum leave the pitch in such circumstances.
“She's a team-mate and a friend to all of us. We care so much about her. You worry a bit when stuff like this happens,” she said.
"We said we wanted to do this for her, to get this win for her because she couldn't be with us at that point."
Frida is conscious, talking and in a stable condition.
She will continue to be monitored closely by our medical team.
We're all with you, Frida ❤️— Arsenal Women (@ArsenalWFC) March 31, 2024
Hayes and Eidevall’s encounter at full time
Following the final whistle, the coming together between Chelsea manager Emma Hayes and Arsenal boss Eidevall has sparked some controversy online.
Fans watched as the two ventured for a standard post match handshake, although, as tensions boiled over, Hayes appears to shove Eidevall as the two exchanged words.
She also pointed her finger at him as she walked away, with Eidevall coming across as confused as to what unfolded.
In the press events after the game, Hayes labelled Eidevall’s actions on the day as “male aggression on the touchline”, a description he then categorised as “irresponsible.”
“He got a yellow card, and he should probably have been sent off,” Hayes said.
"His behaviour on the touchline wasn’t acceptable,” she added.
Eidevall also attempted to pinpoint where the issue between them might have arose from.
“My word on what was happening would be that before the game, we had a discussion between the clubs about whether to use one ball or multi-ball system,” he said, in conversation with the BBC.
"In this situation, Arsenal said multi-ball, Chelsea said one ball. The decision was to play the final on a one-ball system.
"The ball goes out of play, the Chelsea player wants a new ball to take a quick throw-in. I said, 'we play with only one ball and you guys decided that'.
"Obviously, it now drives all kinds of emotions in there, nothing more, nothing less.
"I can't see that I did anything, had any form of contact with anyone - either a player or a coach. That was it."
not emma hayes and jonas eidevall beefing 💀 pic.twitter.com/Yu8yUkW4bm
— siobhan (@muwfcsiobhan) March 31, 2024
Arsenal Are the Conti Cup champions - McCabe and co celebrate
Republic of Ireland captain Katie McCabe was right in the thick of the celebrations as Arsenal lifted the League Cup over the weekend, taking to Instagram to share some snaps of the festivities.
“Yeah the arsenal 🏆❤️” she captioned a carousel of photos, including pictures of her and the trophy with teammates Caitlin Foord, Vivianne Miedema, emily fox, Laura Wienroither, Teyah Goldie, as well as a video of Sweden’s Blackstenius.
The win also comes as players now enter international camp, with Ireland set to take on France in Metz this Friday, and England the following Tuesday in the Aviva Stadium.
