Jonas Eidevall revealed referee Rebecca Welch delayed Arsenal's Women's Super League clash at Chelsea when both teams lined up in the tunnel.

Kick-off for was put back by 30 minutes while Gunners staff collected black socks from the home side's club shop, using blue tape to cover the Chelsea and Nike logos.

Arsenal had arrived at Stamford Bridge with the same colour white socks as the Blues and were forced to make a change.

Speaking after the 3-1 defeat, which saw Emma Hayes' side pull three points clear at the top of the table, Eidevall said: "It was a clash of colour with the kits, which came to attention very late.

"We got told we can't go out and play with the kit we had so we had to adapt and that was definitely a first.

"I was not involved in the process in how it was resolved.

"We found out when we left the dressing room to go to the tunnel so it was a very late call and notice.

"It is what it is. It was the same for both teams."

Hayes admitted she relished seeing Arsenal players wearing Chelsea lions on their socks.

The Blues boss, who will depart in the summer to take charge of the United States women's national team, also called for less criticism towards Arsenal's kitman, acknowledging he was left red-faced after the mix-up.

She said: "I'm not throwing the kitman under the bus.

"He's going to be feeling terrible tonight, it was a mistake. He's a new guy, new into the position, so please don't slaughter him.

"Because we didn't have our blue socks, I couldn't say don't worry about it. I was delighted to see lion crests on Arsenal players' legs in the first half.

"Maybe that gave my players motivation, I don't know.

"It was an honest mistake and something that poor guy is going home tonight and will feel bad about. I'm certainly not going to pile in on him."