This is my ultimate Chelsea and Arsenal women’s combined starting XI that is fit to play in this weekend's London Derby fixture.
These are players who are available for the section, so that’s why there’s no Leah Williamson, for example. I tried to make it as balanced as possible. These are players who have repeatedly influenced this fixture. Those who have created decisive moments, withstand late pressure and force the opposition to change tactics.
Both teams come into this game from both ends of the spectrum. Arsenal lost their League Cup semi-final despite more opportunities, while Chelsea won theirs against Manchester City, capitalising on the limited chances they created.
In the goal, there was truly no one else but Hannah Hampton. Not only is she back in fine form with clean sheets to show, but Daphne Van Domselaar was also only made the midweek squad after recovering from injury. She has an elite shot-stopping ability and game management. She can control the tempo from the back, and she has extensive experience in this fixture and in high-stakes matches at Chelsea and for England. These are games decided by one or two moments, softened late, where Hampton has repeatedly shown she can handle that. Hampton's strength is her ability to stay mentally sharp for long periods with limited involvement, then produce saves when momentum shifts. In the previous meeting this season, she was able to cope with an increase in shot volume in the final 20 minutes: no split shots, no rebounds. Chelsea's clean sheet record in big matches over the last two seasons is built around Hampton. This is why she’s my choice: strong, confident and fit.
In the right back, we have Ellie Carpenter, who has shown her speed and ability to overload the opposition's defender down the wing. Her ability to quickly switch and run the overlaps is second to none. Her pace allows Chelsea to hold a higher line without being punished in transitions. In the most recent meeting, Arsenal found more joy tracking on the left rather than on the right. This is no accident: Arsenal wins football races, delays attackers rather than diving in, and forces Arsenal to recycle possession rather than deliver early balls into the box. This directly limited the services for Alessia Russo.
A newbie with only two games under her belt, but who has already made a great impression, is Smilla Holmberg. With no Leah Williamson and Emily Fox in doubt, this is the time for the teenager to shine. The Swedish international has strength in abundance and is rarely panicked into clearances that hand possession back. Chelsea's forwards, like Sam Kerr and Lauren James, rely on defenders stepping out at the wrong moment. Holmberg’s positioning allows her to delay rather than engage, forcing Chelsea wide instead of letting them play through the middle. That is critical against a side that thrives on central combinations.
Steph Catley is one of the most defensively intelligent players on the pitch and remains the best centre-back option for a derby scenario. Experience matters in this fixture, and Catley understands when to drop, when to hold the line, and how to manage space when Arsenal are under pressure. Against Chelsea, her role becomes particularly defined. Chelsea regularly targets the right half-space through Lauren James and underlapping runs, and Catley’s awareness allows Arsenal to shift across without losing compactness. She prevents Chelsea from isolating centre-backs one-on-one and anchors Arsenal late into matches. She is not selected for goals or flair, but because Arsenal’s ability to absorb pressure and remain competitive against Chelsea has consistently relied on her positional discipline and communication.
Katie McCabe is included because she remains the most influential wide defender in this fixture, even when results go against Arsenal. In the 1–0 defeat at Stamford Bridge last season, McCabe was Arsenal’s primary attacking outlet throughout the match, delivering multiple dangerous balls into the box and driving late pressure. Her red card in that game did not come from recklessness in attack, but from frustration and intensity in a match Arsenal were chasing. That moment underlined how heavily Arsenal rely on her to generate momentum. Her crossing and set-piece delivery consistently force Chelsea to defend deeper than they would prefer, and Chelsea often commits an extra player to her side. Even when she does not register a goal or assist, her influence reshapes Chelsea’s defensive priorities, which is precisely why she remains the strongest left-back option.
Erin Cuthbert is the best midfield disruptor available. Chelsea–Arsenal matches are often decided in second-ball moments and transitional phases, and Cuthbert excels in both. In recent derbies, Arsenal have struggled to sustain rhythm through midfield when she starts. Her pressing is aggressive but intelligent, forcing Arsenal sideways rather than forward and directly limiting the influence of their creative players. She has a history of stepping up in this fixture, whether through goals, assists, or momentum-shifting tackles, and her ability to maintain intensity deep into matches is crucial in contests that are frequently decided late.
Keira Walsh would usually be Chelsea's automatic choice in central midfield, but context matters. She has only just returned to fitness, has not played yet in 2026, and missed Chelsea’s final run of games at the end of 2025, making her a risk for a high-intensity derby. For this match, Wieke Kaptein is the correct starting option.
Kaptein is fully fit, match sharp, and high on confidence after scoring against Manchester City in the League Cup semi-final. That goal took her to six for the season, already more than she managed across the entirety of last year, underlining her development and growing influence from midfield. Her strengths are energy, intelligent forward runs, ball progression, and pressing discipline. Against Arsenal, she offers what Walsh currently cannot from the first minute: intensity and legs. Arsenal’s midfield can be exposed by runners breaking beyond their press, and Kaptein’s willingness to arrive late in the box forces defenders to step out, creating space for Chelsea’s forwards. In a derby that rewards sharpness and momentum, her form, confidence, and goal output make her the stronger and more reliable starting choice.
Mariona Caldentey is one of the most tactically intelligent attackers in this fixture. Against Chelsea’s aggressive midfield, she thrives by drifting into pockets that are difficult to track. Her influence in recent meetings has come through link play rather than final actions. Arsenal’s best attacking phases often begin with Caldentey finding space between midfield and defence, pulling Chelsea out of shape and creating space for runners beyond her. In a game where space is limited, her movement and decision-making make her Arsenal’s best option for unlocking Chelsea’s structure.
Lauren James remains one of the defining figures in this rivalry. Reaching her 100th Chelsea appearance underlines how central she has become to the club, particularly in high-pressure matches. In Chelsea’s recent wins over Arsenal, it has often been James who produces the decisive moment, most notably by winning the penalty in the 1–0 victory. Arsenal consistently double-mark her, which is telling. Few players in this fixture demand that level of attention. Her ball-carrying forces defenders to retreat rather than step up, reshaping the defensive line and changing how Arsenal defend as a unit. She is at her most dangerous in tight games where one action can decide the outcome.
Alessia Russo is Arsenal’s most reliable goal threat against Chelsea. She scored the equaliser in the most recent draw and has consistently been Arsenal’s most effective finisher in this matchup. Her strength is timing rather than volume. Russo does not need many chances and excels at attacking crosses and loose balls late in matches, a recurring pattern in this rivalry. Her presence forces Chelsea’s centre-backs to remain compact, limiting their ability to step into midfield, making her Arsenal’s most valuable attacking option in this fixture.
Sam Kerr remains the definitive big game striker in this rivalry. She has scored and assisted against Arsenal across multiple seasons and continues to cause problems even when she is not on the scoresheet. Her recent two goals against Crystal Palace were a reminder of her instincts and of a familiar reality. Kerr needs to be fed. When service reaches her, she finishes. Her movement, particularly near post runs and blindside positioning, consistently forces defensive errors and prevents defenders from switching off. In matches decided by one chance, her instincts and experience make her the strongest possible striker choice.
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