An Alessia Russo double helped Arsenal to an enormous 4-1 win towards Chelsea in entrance of a file WSL crowd on the Emirates Stadium and ignited the title race within the course of.
The Blues have been three factors forward of Arsenal and Manchester Metropolis heading into the sport, however a lacklustre show throughout the board noticed them lose their first league recreation of the season in entrance of a brand new WSL attendance file of 59,042.
Beth Mead fired Arsenal forward inside eight minutes, however Johanna Rytting Kaneryd (13) levelled issues up quickly after in an electrical begin.
However two objectives in two first half minutes – coupled with some questionable Chelsea defending turned the tide within the Gunners’ favour.
Amanda Ilestedt (36) nodded the hosts in entrance earlier than Russo (38) scored the primary of her two objectives, pulling away from Maren Mjelde to fit residence Arsenal’s third.
After three half-time adjustments, Chelsea seemed extra strong – however a sliding problem from Ann-Katrin Berger on Russo noticed the Gunners awarded a penalty. The England striker coolly slotted residence (74) and the Blues couldn’t muster a reply and slipped to their first league defeat of the marketing campaign.
Chelsea, nevertheless, do stay high of the league on objective distinction, though are actually stage on 22 factors with Arsenal.
How Arsenal cruised to huge win
Beth Mead celebrates after opening the scoring for Arsenal towards Chelsea
By the thirteenth minute, each groups had already discovered the online. Arsenal opened issues up as Victoria Pelova was discovered inside the realm after a fantastic break from the hosts. She in flip picked out an unmarked Mead, who used a fast change of course to search out her house earlier than firing residence.
Chelsea had labored Manuela Zinsberger within the interim and located the online 5 minutes later. Rytting Kaneryd drove into the realm earlier than powering her shot by means of the legs of Steph Catley and previous the outstretched hand of the goalkeeper.
Arsenal continued to see the higher of the play as the sport continued, and made the breakthrough once more within the thirty sixth minute. It was a easy header from Ilestedt from a nook, with Berger going too early to assert, permitting the Arsenal defender to nod residence.
Quickly after, the Gunners made it three. It was an excellent ball excessive from Lia Walti, selecting out the run of Russo. She peeled away simply from Mjelde earlier than simply slotting residence previous Berger.
Johanna Rytting Kaneryd celebrates along with her team-mates after equalising for Chelsea at Arsenal
It was no shock to see Emma Hayes make three adjustments at half-time, with Mjelde, Sjoeke Nusken and Eve Perisset hooked for Fran Kirby, Kadeisha Buchanan and Ashley Lawrence.
It was a extra even efficiency from Chelsea after the break, with a penalty shout from the guests, following a foul on Kirby, being waved away by referee Rebecca Welch.
However Arsenal have been awarded a penalty with round 20 minutes to play. As Russo tried to latch on to a by means of ball, she was bundled off the ball by Jess Carter, with Berger then sliding in throughout a rain-soaked floor to ship the striker tumbling over.
Regardless of Berger’s protests, the choice stood and Russo made no mistake in slotting residence for Arsenal’s fourth.
The objective appeared to shake Chelsea’s confidence as soon as once more, with the Gunners wanting the extra possible so as to add one other earlier than full-time. Nonetheless, some alert defending stored them at bay as Arsenal blew the WSL title race extensive open.
What’s subsequent?
Arsenal host the primary of two North London Derbies towards Tottenham within the Girls’s League Cup on Wednesday December 13. Kick-off 7pm.
The pair then face one another three days later, this time at Spurs within the WSL, on Saturday December 16, stay on Sky Sports activities. Kick-off 12pm.
Chelsea host Group D leaders BK Hacken within the Champions League on Thursday December 14, kick-off 8pm. The Blues then head to Bristol Metropolis within the WSL on Sunday December 17. Kick-off 2pm.
