This embarrassing mistake caused 30-minute delay to match between Chelsea vs Arsenal women

The much-anticipated Women's Super League encounter between Chelsea and Arsenal could not be held on its scheduled time. The showdown faced an unexpected delay of half an hour due to an embarrassing error.

What went wrong?

Moments before the scheduled kick-off, the Arsenal women appeared on the field wearing white socks. With their red away kit, whhite shocks created a visual conflict with Chelsea's home attire, which also featured white socks.

When the unforeseen hiccup came to their notice, Arsenal took a swift action by procuring black socks from the Chelsea club superstore. They covered the Chelsea logo and blue stripe with black athletic tape to maintain uniformity.

The process took at least 30 minutes. The match kick-off was postponed to 7:30pm, allowing both teams a brief 15-minute warm-up session.

Expressing her dismay, former England international Karen Carney criticised the delay, labeling it as "embarrassing" and "frustrating" for the players. She emphasised the significance of attention to detail, especially in a high-stakes encounter like this.

Taking to social media, Arsenal legend Ian Wright branded the socks error as "embarrassing" and "ridiculous."

Friday's clash was poised to be a vital moment in the title race. Chelsea and Manchester City occupied the top spots while Arsenal trailed by three points. However, a loss for Arsenal would significantly diminish their chances of mounting a late-season title challenge.

In the reverse fixture, Arsenal emerged victorious with a commanding 4-1 win at Emirates Stadium. Despite Chelsea's depleted squad, Lauren James provided an early lead for the Blues, showcasing her prolific goal-scoring form.

Sjoeke Nüsken's brace further extended Chelsea's advantage, highlighting their formidable presence on the field despite the absence of key players like Mayra Ramirez and Nathalie Bjorn due to injury.