Russo puts Arsenal in charge against Chelsea in Women’s Champions League

Holders Arsenal take a two-goal lead into the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final against Chelsea next week after a 3-1 win at the Emirates Stadium, with the quality of the goals, two disallowed Chelsea goals and the Blues’ injury woes the talking points.

A Stina Blackstenius header and Chloe Kelly long-range effort made it 2-0 after the visitors had twice hit the post before Veerle Buurman’s header was ruled out for a very soft foul on Laia Codina, but Lauren James was on hand to reduce the margin in style, curling in from outside the box. Alessia Russo restored the Gunners’ cushion but there was drama at the close, when Kadeisha Buchanan’s goal was ruled out after she ploughed her foot into Anneke Borbe as she put the ball over the line.