Women’s Super League: Why summers of change beckon for Arsenal and Chelsea

Chelsea entered Saturday sitting two points behind Arsenal and ended it in the same place.

By half-time of the fixtures on the final day it became apparent they had little to play for given Arsenal were already three up at Liverpool, eventually winning 3-1, with Alessia Russo scoring twice.

At Stamford Bridge meanwhile, Kerr marked her final appearance with a fine finish for the game’s only goal against Manchester United.

That goal was her 116th for the club, equaling Fran Kirby’s record for the most goals for Chelsea in all competitions.

Kerr, who has been linked with a move to the United States, said it has been the “biggest honour” to play for Chelsea.

“I have so many amazing memories and I will carry them with me forever,” she told Sky Sports. “Chelsea and London will always be home to me now.

“My little boy was born here and I have so many great friends at this amazing club. It’s going to be hard to leave but I only have good things to say about this amazing club.”

Arsenal have now got the better of Chelsea on two fronts this season, both knocking them out of the Champions League in the quarter-finals and preventing them reaching it automatically next year.

While being unable to catch City may leave a sour note for the Gunners, their league performance this season was better than last year as they picked up three more points across the campaign.

McCabe managed an assist in her last game for the club and expressed her joy at captaining the side for one last time before she departs.

“I was just enjoying every second of it,” she said. “My team talk was to go out and enjoy it and play the Arsenal way, play our football, and we certainly did it. We were playing with smiles on our faces. I’m just delighted I could end with a win.”

Both sides will rebuild in the summer, with Chelsea needing a striker to replace Kerr. They are favourites to sign Manchester City’s out-of-contract Khadija Shaw.

Arsenal, meanwhile, will likely seek squad depth to help them cope more easily with a cramped fixture schedule next season.

They too have been heavily linked with some big signings, including Bayern Munich and England midfielder Georgia Stanway and Barcelona full-back Ona Batlle.