Chelsea inflict defeat on league leaders Arsenal

Chelsea moved two points behind Arsenal with a 2-1 win against the league leaders.

With Manchester City in action today, Arsenal could find themselves in second place by the end of Sunday after losing their second league match of the season.

It was a day of landmark appearances for the Gunners as they faced Chelsea. Leah Willamson, still just 21, joined the 100 club while Katie McCabe and Beth Mead both made their 50th appearances.

Chelsea, keen to avenge the 5-0 defeat that occured at Kingsmeadow earlier on in the season, started the game very positively. Chelsea captain Karen Carney had the first promising chance when she raced through on goal but Arsenal goalkeeper Pauline Peyraud-Magnin came off her line quickly to clear the danger.

Chelsea’s persistence paid off midway through the first half when Erin Cuthbert towered above everyone in the box to head them in front from a Hannah Blundell cross.

Arsenal struggled to contain a Blues team who were pressing at every opportunity, especially through Beth England and a very energetic Carney.

The Gunners were without attacking midfielder Danielle van de Donk who sustained a thigh muscle in training during the week but was in the stands to watch her side. How they could have done with her tenacity on the pitch.

To make matters worse, Mead injured her knee and was unable to come out for the second half as Arsenal added yet another name to an ever-growing injury list.

There was only one team in the game during the first 45 minutes and this continued after the break. England, a constant thorn in Arsenal’s side, thought she had increased Chelsea’s lead but her header from Carney’s cross was correctly ruled out for offside.

In the 63rd minute Emma Hayes’ side finally doubled their advantage. Cuthbert got her second goal of the game after volleying home from 15 yards. Arsenal had been poor up to this point and could have no complaints about going even further behind.

However, 10 minutes from time, the home side set up a tense finale. Completely against the run of play, the WSL top scorer Vivianne Miedema got her 15th goal of the season. Kim Little laid on a perfect ball for Miedema who finished with ease from close range to haul Arsenal back into the game.

After the goal Arsenal were the dominant side but despite their best efforts, it was not enough to complete the comeback. Little raced through on goal in the dying minutes of the game but a superbly-timed last ditch tackle from Magdalena Eriksson ensured Chelsea went home with a well-desered three points.

Arsenal Women starting XI: Peyraud-Magnin; Williamson, Quinn, Arnth (Veje 77), McCabe; Bloodworth, Walti, Little; Evans, Miedema, Mead (Mitchell 45)

Substitues: van Veenendaal, Mitchell, Kuyken, Veje

Chelsea starting XI: Lindahl, Blundell, Bright, Ingle, Carney (Kirby 67), Ji, England (Carter 79), Eriksson, Andersson, Cuthbert (Riley 66), Spence

Substitutes: Telford, Asante, Carter, Riley, Kirby, Cooper, Bachmann