Arsenal Women wear Chelsea socks during games after bizarre shirt clash

Kick-off was delayed thirty minutes due to the sock controversy.

Last night's Women's Super League clash between Chelsea and Arsenal was overshadowed by a kit incident before the game even started.

Emma Hayes' Chelsea face Arsenal at Stamford Bridge at 7pm yesterday evening.

Questions were raised during both teams' warm-ups an hour before tip-off when game officials noticed both teams were wearing matching white socks.

The referee thought this was a problem and ordered Arsenal's coaching staff to find replacement socks for the entire team moments before kick-off.

This resulted in one member of Arsenal staff scrambling to the Stamford Bridge club store to purchase a pair for each player.

Arsenal are reportedly required to put the logo of Chelsea shirt sponsor Nike on every pair of socks before returning to the pitch.

Kick-off was rescheduled for 7.30pm due to a jersey glitch, prompting a backlash from spectators on social media.

Arsenal legend Ian Wright, who was at the game, posted that the situation was “embarrassing” and “ridiculous”.

Commentators on BBC Radio 5 Live were equally baffled by the incident, with former Wales striker Helen Ward calling the delay “stupid”.

“I'm sure it happens in the men's game, but when it happens in such a high-profile game in the WSL, a televised game, a game with almost a full house, it just doesn't happen. “Don't help people who still want to let it go,” she said.

“These little silly things can have a huge impact.”

Fortunately, the ensuing game was a good one, with Chelsea beating Arsenal 3-1.

Lauren James opened the scoring inside fifteen minutes before Sjoeke Nusken scored twice before half-time.

Arsenal pulled a goal back late in the game thanks to Catarina Macario's own goal.

Chelsea are currently at the top of the WSL standings, just three points ahead of Manchester City, who have a game in hand.

Despite the inconvenience, Chelsea's social media team posted joking captions for half an hour on their Twitter page in an attempt to lighten the mood.