Have I maybe somewhat cheated… but many players have played for both teams in their careers. Many players started their careers at Arsenal, which was the largest women’s team in England and one of the first clubs to invest in women’s football in the 2010s. Chelsea came into the fold. This is the ultimate starting XI of retired players. They were chosen based on their abilities while at the clubs in question, not on their abilities elsewhere in their careers.
A significant influence on the players' move across London would likely have been Emma Hayes, who was Arsenal's assistant coach from 2005 to 2008, then moved to Chelsea in 2012 after time in the States. Her influence and connection with players are why so many people moved over. Her connection is evident in the number of dual connections between players; the only exception was Ellen White, who moved from Chelsea to Arsenal.
Another key thread throughout this is that the majority of the players were part of the 2006-07 quadruple team, which made history.
These are the club's best players in their history for every position on the pitch and why they deserve the nod, and other players who nearly were included were pipped at the end.
Sari van Veenendaal- In the goalkeeper position, Chelsea
She was at Chelsea from 2014-2018 and made 50+ appearances across all competitions; she won the WSL in 2015 and the FA Cup in 2015 and 2018. She received 120 caps for the Netherlands, won the 2017 Euros, and was a runner-up in the 2019 World Cup.
Her area of expertise was elite shot-stopping, commanding aerial presence, clutch penalty saves and leadership within the team. She made crucial saves in the WSL derbies and helped Chelsea avoid losses in key league matches. She is known for providing reliability and leadership in high-pressure environments.
Alex Scott- Right-back, Arsenal
Scott is one of the most famous women’s footballers in her generation, but let's look at your on-pitch performance. She played at the club between 2000 and 2013, making 214 appearances and scoring 15 goals. She has won the 2007 Champions League, five WSL/Premier League titles, and seven FA Cups. She received 140 England caps. She is an intelligent player in her position, great at overlapping runs, calm under pressure and great in transitions down the wing from defence to attack. However, one of her most famous moments was in an Arsenal v Chelsea derby in 2016, when she scored an own goal after a long-range pass back to her keeper, which went past the keeper and into the back of the net. She is what I would describe as Miss Arsenal, an all-time elite full-back, and she has had a significant influence on title-winning squads.
Faye White- centre-back, Arsenal
White was selected by her supreme influence at the club level and was a big leadership figure and sheer consistency at the heart of Arsenal’s dominant defence. Her career in North London was extensive from 1996 to 2013 and had one of the most formidable defensive records in English Women’s football. She captained the side through multiple unbeaten league campaigns, ten league titles, nine FA Cups and European success in 2007. Her strengths were not just in her leadership by her aerial romance, immaculate positional sense and a winning mentality. In numerous Arsenal-Chelsea top-tier matches she anchored the defence, curbing Chelsea’s attacking threat and helping Arsenal to maintain their status in the rivalry.
Anita Asante- Centreback Chelsea & Arsenal
The other centre-back Anita Asante ticks all the boxes, a great Centre-back at both clubs. She has elite experience and a dual club perspective at critical periods in each club's development. She joined Arsenal in 1998. She became a senior player in the 2003/04 season and was part of the team that won the quadruple in 2006/07, including the FA Cup.
She joined Chelsea Ladies. Upon signing Asante said: “I want to compete with the likes of Arsenal and Everton and hopefully get to some finals, like the League Cup Final. But it is such a great squad here at Chelsea, with lots of enthusiasm and lots of young players.”
Arsenal manager Vic Akers publicly criticised the players after their departure: "You think you've the respect of players, and then they do that. It's a sorry state of affairs."
Her inclusion in this XI reflects not only her technical and tactical ability but also her significant impact at both Chelsea and Arsenal, her contributions in the historic rivalry, and her capacity to lead and organize a defensive line at the highest level.
Claire Rafferty- left-back, Chelsea
She was at the club for a decade before ending her career in May 2018 she was the longest-serving player at the time. She played both as a left midfielder and then a left-back. She was a crucial figure during the club's transformation into a professional side and a founder member of the WSL. She played 141 games with 14 goals. She won the two doubles in 2015 and 2018 and also the Spring series in 2017 while facing considerable setbacks with major injuries. She helped Chelsea win their first FA cup and WSL title.
Karen Carney- midfield, Arsenal and Chelsea.
She, like others, played for both clubs and represented her exceptional technical quality, football intelligence and composure in big matches. Carney began her career at Arsenal, contributing to multiple domestic titles and earning UEFA Women’s Cup success in 2007, before later returning to the English league with Chelsea, where she became a centrepiece of Emma Hayes’ early title-building era.
Carney excelled through her vision, passing range, and ability to dictate tempo equally capable of threading through final-third passes, switching play, or carrying the ball under pressure. Her set-piece delivery, football intelligence, and composure in tight matches justified her selection as the deep-lying playmaker in this all-time XI.
Katie Chapman- midfield, Arsenal & Chelsea.
Like Karen Carney and Anita Asante she came from Arsenal to Chelsea through Emma Hayes. She offers elite versatility, leadership; she was Hayes first captain at Chelsea. Like many on this list she was part of the historic quadruple team contributing creative passes, late runs, and disciplined defending from midfield. Her presence in that squad helped Arsenal secure multiple league titles and FA Cups.Chapman’s intelligence in possession, her ability to break lines and her willingness to do the hard work defensively made her one of the most reliable midfielders during that era. Under her leadership, Chelsea won the Women's Super League (WSL) title in 2015 and again in the 2017/18 season, along with the FA Women’s Cup in 2015 and 2018. Chapman’s leadership was key in instilling a winning culture at Chelsea: she dictated the tempo in midfield, marshalled younger players, and delivered match‑winning contributions in critical fixtures. She will bridge the defense and attack.
Kelly Smith - forward, Arsenal.
Every girls football hero Kelly Smith. She was central to Arsenal's creative force and exceptional technical skill, vision and ability to take over matches in crucial moments. She scored over 100 goals at Arsenal where she played most of her career. She secured multiple FA Cups, Premier League/WSL titles, and the 2007 UEFA Women’s Cup, cementing her as one of Arsenal’s most influential players of her generation. Smith’s strengths lay in her dribbling, long-range shooting, and ability to unlock tight defenses with precise passing, making her a constant threat in the final third. Just one of many moments Smith delivered memorable moments against Chelsea for the gunners was the FA Women’s Cup semi-final on 11 May 2014, where she scored twice to inspire a remarkable 5–3 comeback win over Chelsea, demonstrating her clutch ability in high-pressure rivalry matches.
Rachel Yankey- forward/winger, Arsenal.
One of the all-time greats, her career has been defined by her pace,creativity and consistency. She operated with the responsibilities and positional flexibility especially on the wing. Her ability to overlap and stretch opposition back lines plays supply the ball into the box while also racking runners. At Arsenal she was an icon through two spells (1997–2001 and 2005–2013), winning multiple league titles, FA Cups, and being an integral part of the squad that secured the UEFA Women’s Cup in 2007, the most historic club achievement in English women’s football at the time.
Gemma Davison- winger/forward, Arsenal & Chelsea.
Davison is known for her blistering pace, direct dribbling and creativity. Davison’s strengths include her ability to beat defenders one-on-one, deliver precise crosses, and contribute both goals and assists in high-stakes matches. Her versatility allowed her to operate across the front line, stretching defenses and creating space for teammates, which made her an ideal choice for the final attacking spot in this all-time combined XI.
Ellen White- forward, Arsenal and Chelsea.
She is the only star on this team that started her career at Chelsea and then moved to Arsenal. She has a clinical finish and intelligence on the move and tireless work rate in attack. White’s strengths include positioning inside the penalty box, aerial prowess, and the ability to score decisive goals in tight matches. Her adaptability, ability to read the game, and knack for being in the right place at the right time make her the ideal link between midfield creativity and the forward line in this combined XI.
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