Arsenal put in a brilliant display in front of a record crowd at Emirates Stadium to record a humbling victory over champions Chelsea, ensuring the defence of their Women’s Super League title will not be an easy one.
The Gunners are now level on points with the leaders, who are ahead only on goal difference following their first league defeat of the season in front of 59,042 people – a new WSL record.
England forward Beth Mead gave Arsenal the perfect start when she fired in the opener after just eight minutes, but Chelsea responded against the run of play to equalise through Johanna Rytting-Kaneryd.
Chelsea’s goal did little to kick them into gear and instead ignited even more energy from Arsenal, who went on to dominate the first half and saw out their victory after the break. Chelsea goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger failed to make contact when she came out to collect a corner and left Amanda Ilestedt with an open goal for Arsenal’s second, and the Gunners were 3-1 up at half-time thanks to a cool Alessia Russo finish.
Chelsea boss Emma Hayes was visibly frustrated throughout and made three changes at half-time, as well as a formation switch, in an attempt to turn things around.
But while it slowed some of Arsenal’s momentum, Chelsea never really looked like getting back into the game and Russo confirmed the three points were staying in north London when she added a fourth goal from the penalty spot.
Any suggestion that Chelsea were going to run away with the league this season was quickly silenced as Arsenal turned up full of aggression and intent at Emirates Stadium.
They put Chelsea on the back foot immediately and visiting manager Hayes spent the majority of the first half flapping her arms in frustration and in deep conversation with defenders Jess Carter and Niamh Charles.
She unleashed her frustration on England forward Lauren James when Arsenal were once again allowed too much space on the right in the first half. James herself could not hide her emotions when she stood on Arsenal’s Lia Walti after giving away a free-kick in the second half and was fortunate to avoid a red card.
“We couldn’t execute the basic things,” said manager Hayes.
“Even when we did well to win the ball back, we gave it away again. It’s so difficult as a coach when you have no control in a certain way and I felt we lacked that across the pitch.
“I have a dressing room that will acknowledge that and own it. That’s not our best and to be honest that was probably our very worst.”
Arsenal striker Russo was a constant threat, making dangerous runs in behind and linking with midfielders Kim Little and Walti – the Switzerland captain providing an exquisite through ball for Russo’s first goal shortly before half-time.
There was concern for Little when she headed off in the second half with an injury but manager Jonas Eidevall said afterwards he did not think there was any major concern.
“If you feel you can’t go 100%, there is no need for anyone to go 90% because our bench is so strong and there are game changers ready to come on,” Eidevall added.
“It is a wise decision. It shows another aspect of Kim Little’s leadership.”
The Gunners could have added to their tally late on as Chelsea piled numbers forward in an attempt to come away with something vaguely positive and gaps opened up at both ends.
But there was no question as to who was the better side and, in this form, Arsenal are more than capable of winning the WSL title. However, there are not many occasions when Chelsea’s level drops as low as it did here.
