Who was our player of the match, and who produced a moment of magic akin to a certain Ray Parlour 14 years ago?

Welwyn Hatfield Times: Hedvig Lindahl makes an unorthodox save with her feetHedvig Lindahl makes an unorthodox save with her feet (Image: Danny Loo Photography 2015)

ARSENAL LADIES

13. Sari van Veenendaal. The Dutch goalkeeper was called into action to save with her feet at her near post from Fran Kirby but late in the game put her side under pressure when she punched a Ji So-Yun free-kick back into a body of players when she should have caught it. She also miscued a clearance kick, though Chelsea weren’t able to take advantage. Had a much quieter game than her Blues counterpart. 6

2. Alex Scott. With Chelsea’s main threat coming down the other side, Scott had a fairly straightforward first half. However, she was called into making a wonderful, full-bodied block to deny substitute Bethany England with just 10 minutes to go as Chelsea threw caution to the wind in search of an equaliser. 7

3. Emma Mitchell. Was quick into the challenge but too often Gemma Davison got the better of her. Had a quieter second half as Chelsea began to exploit other areas of the pitch and Davison became less influential. 5

22. Josephine Henning. The centre-half kept Fran Kirby quiet by sending the odd long ball up to the diminutive forward back towards the Chelsea half. She held the defensive line well, and gave the Blues attacker very little change. Just after the hour mark she headed just off target at the other end of the pitch. Was solid throughout. 7

5. Casey Stoney. A strong first half ended with a body check on Kirby that sent her England team-mate flying. She kept both Kirby and Ji So-Yun in check for much of the first half, and marshalled the defence well. Put in a good block in injury time as Chelsea tried but failed to get past a stubborn Arsenal defence. 8

6. Vicky Losada. After a quiet first period she started the second with the bit between her teeth, and her outside-of-the-foot pass to Asisat Oshoala led to her team-mate forcing a save out of Hedvig Lindahl. Became more influential as the match went on. 7

4. Fara Williams. Struck a 25-yard free-kick just over Lindahl’s bar 12 minutes in and was busy in the middle of the park denying Chelsea space in which to free their front players. Was taken off with just under 20 minutes to go after a decent shift. 6

8. Jordan Nobbs. Helped Arsenal to take control of the midfield for much of the first 50 minutes with her box-to-box runs. Tidy in possession and quick in the challenge, she troubled Chelsea with her energy and passing in midfield. 6

9. Danielle Carter. Arsenal’s match winner was at it from the start. It took her fewer than 60 seconds to have her first chance on goal, when she lobbed Lindahl only to see her shot drop the other side of the bar. She made no mistake midway through the first half with an outstanding curled effort into the top corner which gifted the Gunners the cup. It was reminiscent of Ray Parlour’s sumptuous goal against Chelsea in the 2002 FA Cup final. 8

24. Asisat Oshoala. Struggled to get a foothold in the game in the opening 25 minutes and blew the chance of making it 2-0 when she fluffed her lines following skilful Smith play on the edge of the Chelsea box. She then missed another glorious chance on the hour, both times fluffing her shot when through on goal. 6

10. Kelly Smith. The all-action England legend and former WGC resident ran the show at times as Arsenal dominated the early stages and should have claimed an assist only for Oshoala to miss putting away her pass just before the break. She headed onto the bar early in the second period and Chelsea were pleased to see her make way for Danielle van de Donk with 15 minutes remaining. PLAYER OF THE MATCH. 8

SUBS

1. Emma Byrne. Unused.

7. Natalia Pablos Sanchon. Unused.

20. Dominique Janssen. Came off the bench to replace Fara Williams with just under 20 minutes to go. Tidy. 6

21. Danielle van de Donk. Like Janssen a 75th minute substitute, replacing Kelly Smith. Put in a timely tackle to stop Gemma Davison from putting in a cross in the dying moments. 6

14. Leah Williamson. Came on for Asisat Oshoala with two minutes remaining. 6

CHELSEA LADIES

1. Hedvig Lindahl. The Swedish goalkeeper may have kept a clean sheet in the final against Notts County a year ago, but she could do nothing about Carter’s goal on 18 minutes. She made a smart, low save from the same player just before half-time and then a strange but effective karate kick stop early in the second half. 7

3. Hannah Blundell. The full-back had a tough time of it against the tricky Danielle Carter throughout, with the Arsenal winger using her pace to torment the defender at times. 5

4. Millie Bright. A tough-tackling defender, she lived up to her reputation early on with a crunching, but fair, tackle on Smith. She moved into midfield following the introduction of Niamh Fahey at the break and as a result her side were more combative in the centre of the pitch. 7

5. Gilly Flaherty. Found life tough against Kelly Smith, especially in the first half as Arsenal put the Blues under considerable pressure. That pressure eased off a little during the second half as Arsenal were pushed back a little bit more. 5

7. Gemma Davison. The right midfielder offered her side an attacking option from out wide, and she set up a good Ji So-Yun chance for the Blues. Was her side’s best player for the most part, until So-Yun moved into central midfield late on. 7

8. Karen Carney. With Chelsea directing most of their play down the right Carney was a spectator at times, and rarely had the chance to run at Alex Scott. She was taken off after 55 minutes with striker Eniola Aluko taking her place. 5

10. Ji So-Yun. Just last month So-Yun was named PFA Women’s Player of the Year, but she was rarely afforded time by a mean Arsenal defence in the first half. The only chance she was allowed was a half one at that, as she flicked a shot over from just inside the Gunners’ box. She then did a similar thing with 70 minutes on the clock and with Chelsea pushing for an equaliser. Much more effective when moved into a deeper role late on. 7

14. Fran Kirby. The forward was ineligible for last year’s FA Cup final but she went close to getting on the scoresheet here only to be denied by the feet of van Veenendaal. Too often she found herself up against Arsenal’s strapping defenders and struggled to wriggle free. Had another chance in injury time but couldn’t keep it down. 6

16. Ana Borges. Defensively she was kept on her toes by Asisat Oshoala, and the Arsenal player’s position high up the pitch meant that Borges rarely had the chance to influence play in the Arsenal half. Occasionally she would venture forward, but passes into her rarely gave her the chance for a run at the Arsenal defence. 5

17. Katie Chapman. Well-timed sliding tackle denied Kelly Smith a goal as Arsenal looked to add to Danielle Carter’s early opener. However, for much of the first half she and Drew Spence were overrun. Got a handle on the game in the second period but not enough to help her side to victory. 6

24. Drew Spence. Had a quiet opening half an hour before she was set up by Gemma Davison to curl just over van Veenendaal’s bar. Was taken off at the break for Niamh Fahey with Mille Bright moving into midfield to add some more steel. 5

SUBS

12. Rebecca Spencer. Unused.

6. Niamh Fahey. Was a half-time substitute for Drew Spence. Had a chance at the death for an equaliser, but to be fair to the defender she had to stretch to reach a far-post cross and couldn’t test the Arsenal keeper. 6

9. Eniola Aluko. Came on for Karen Carney with 55 minutes on the clock and five minutes later had the chance to replicate Danielle Carter’s early goal only to curl her shot well off target. 6

11. Claire Rafferty. Unused.

15. Bethany England. Came on for Millie Bright with just over 10 minutes to go. 6