Arsenal Ladies 1 Chelsea Ladies 0

Dani Carter’s eye-catching strike was enough for Arsenal to overcome holders Chelsea and claim the Women’s FA Cup for a record 14th time at Wembley Stadium.

Carter, who was named player of the match, curled a classy finish into the far corner in the 18th minute to clinch the trophy in front of a record crowd of almost 33,000.

The Gunners forward almost opened the scoring within the first minute, capitalising on a Chelsea mistake and chipping Hedvig Lindahl, who could only look on as the ball dropped onto the roof of the net.

Fara Williams also went close with a free-kick before Carter made the breakthrough, collecting the ball out wide and cutting inside Hannah Blundell before unleashing a shot that zipped beyond Lindahl.

Chelsea had chances to hit back, with Ji So-Yun off target and Fran Kirby – who scored both goals in the sides’ recent league clash – bursting through only to be denied by the legs of Sari van Veenendaal.

But the Gunners should have doubled their lead before half-time as Kelly Smith played in Asisat Oshoala, who tried to hook the ball around Lindahl but miscued it horribly.

Arsenal continued to dominate after the break and Smith was unlucky to hit the crossbar with a header from Oshoala’s cross, while Josephine Henning headed wide from a corner.

Substitute Eni Aluko brought more potency to Chelsea’s attack but, for the most part, Henning and Casey Stoney kept the door firmly bolted for the Gunners.

Chelsea’s best chance of an equaliser came 20 minutes from time, when Gilly Flaherty headed on a corner to Ji, who brought the ball down but volleyed fractionally wide of the post.

And, despite a couple of late scares for the Gunners, they held on to seal a deserved win and secure the trophy for the first time under the management of Pedro Martinez Losa.

Arsenal Ladies: Van Veenendaal; Scott, Stoney, Henning, Mitchell; Williams (Janssen 74), Losada, Nobbs; Oshoala (Williamson 89), Smith (Van de Donk 74), Carter.

Chelsea Ladies: Lindahl; Blundell, Bright (England 78), Flaherty, Davison, Carney (Aluko 55), Ji, Kirby, Borges, Chapman, Spence.