'Embarrassing' sock clash delays Chelsea v Arsenal

Ex-England midfielder Karen Carney said the kit clash that delayed the Women's Super League match between Chelsea and Arsenal was "embarrassing".

"People make mistakes but the game does not need this and it's frustrating," said Carney on Sky Sports.

An Arsenal official bought black socks from the Chelsea megastore, with tape applied to cover over the Blues' logo.

"We've waited so long to talk only about football in the women's game," added Carney, who played for both clubs in her playing career.

"Clearly it's a human error, a mistake, but it's embarrassing. It's embarrassing for the players and I'm frustrated. This is a massive crowd, a massive game.

"It's a simple thing, a kit and we have got it wrong. We will move on and have to, but it does not look good for the game.

"Arsenal this season, off the pitch, have been magnificent, they have led the way in terms of crowds, attendances, marketing, it's just a mistake from them."

The Football Association's (FA) rules state teams must wear colours that distinguish them from each other.

'Gutted for the kit man' - Hayes

WSL leaders Chelsea beat Arsenal 3-1 in front of a crowd of 32,970 - a record for a Chelsea Women home game - at Stamford Bridge.

Boss Emma Hayes said after the game she was "gutted" for Arsenal's kit man and would have helped if she could.

"It's so easy to have a dig but I'm gutted for him. If we had a change of socks then I would have put them on for us.

"It didn't derail us whatsoever."

While Arsenal manager Jonas Eidevall said he wouldn't use the delay as an excuse for his side's performance, stating "it was the same for both teams", Chelsea's Erin Cuthbert said players were frustrated.

"We'd been waiting to play the game for a while, we were quite fired up. But we dealt with it quite well," she told Sky Sports.

"We'd already done our team talk, it was weird. It was really, really late in the day. I thought the girls handled themselves impeccably."