Arsenal v Chelsea LIVE: Women’s Super League result and reaction as Gunners shake up title race
Arsenal 4-1 Chelsea: Rampant Gunners put themselves in the hunt for the WSL title with a superb performance in front of record crowd at the Emirates
Arsenal striker Alessia Russo scored twice as her side hammered Women’s Super League leaders Chelsea 4-1 at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday in front of a league-record crowd of 59,042, blowing the title race wide open in the process.
Arsenal forward Beth Mead opened the scoring in the eighth minute, finishing off a dogged attack by keeping a cool head to cut back inside Niamh Charles and fire into the roof of the net with her weaker left foot.
The lead lasted all of five minutes as Chelsea winger Johanna Rytting Kaneryd netted a similar effort to Mead’s, shifting inside Steph Catley to create a bit of space and scoring with a low shot that flew in at the near post.
Rytting Kaneryd’s Sweden international team mate Amanda Ilestedt headed Arsenal back into the lead in the 36th minute, and Russo added a quick-fire third less than two minutes later as Chelsea’s defence floundered.
Blues coach Emma Hayes made a triple change at the break but it made little difference as they continued to struggle to find any fluency in attack. Any hope of a comeback was snuffed out when Ann-Katrin Berger conceded a penalty for a foul on Russo, who scored from the spot in the 74th minute.
Chelsea striker Sam Kerr had a chance to reduce the deficit deep into stoppage time but her header from Fran Kirby’s cross lacked power as Arsenal comfortably held on to win.
Follow along for all the updates plus get the latest football odds and tips right here:
Arsenal 3-1 Chelsea
45 mins: Arsenal have just sat back after that third goal and how Chelsea would love a goal back before the break. Cuthbert nearly finds one as she lets fly from the edge of the box but Zimsberger is equal to it and parries it away from danger.
Arsenal 3-1 Chelsea
40 mins: James still hasn’t managed to get into the game so far and has moved over to the right temporarily. She whips in an inviting cross but McCabe rises well to clear away the danger.
GOAL! Arsenal 3-1 Chelsea (Russo, 38 mins)
Two in two minutes!
A quickfire double from the hosts as Russo puts Arsenal 3-1 ahead. Walti finds the England international down the left channel and the Arsenal striker bends her run to perfection before opening her body up and curling a beautiful finish past Berger and into the far corner.
GOAL! Arsenal 2-1 Chelsea (Ilestedt, 36 mins)
Arsenal are back ahead and it’s a first headed goal of the season for Arsenal!
Catley swings the ball in and Berger is caught in no man’s land. Ilestedt rises highest and nods into the empty net to put the hosts back in front.
Arsenal 1-1 Chelsea
33 mins: A slight stoppage as Nusken receives some treatment but the Chelsea midfielder is back up on her feet and looks okay to continue.
Arsenal 1-1 Chelsea
30 mins: The Arsenal full-backs are bombing forward at any given opportunity. Catley, this time, gets down the left but her low cross is cleared away by Carter for a corner.
Berger does well to get a punch on the cross as it comes into a crowded six-yard box.
Arsenal 1-1 Chelsea
29 mins: Some stern words from Emma Hayes towards James. The Chelsea winger has had just 12 touches so far this game - the second-fewest of any player so far this game.
Arsenal 1-1 Chelsea
23 mins: The delivery in is overhit and McCabe’s header at the back post is cleared away comfortably by the Chelsea defence.
Arsenal 1-1 Chelsea
22 mins: Perisset brings down Foord after some good work from the winger. A free-kick in a good position - just outside the box - for the home side
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