Chelsea 0-2 Arsenal: Mead stars to dent hosts' title hopes

Beth Mead got a goal and an assist to earn Arsenal a 2-0 win over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, further denting the Blues' Women's Super League title hopes.

Renee Slegers' team regained their scoring touch, with Mead and Mariona Caldentey scoring the goals in six second-half minutes to move them one point behind Chelsea, who remain six off leaders Manchester City.

Arsenal, who lost their League Cup semi-final to Manchester United in midweek, started on top, with Katie McCabe denied by Hannah Hampton in the opening two minutes, before Alessia Russo saw a follow-up cleared off the line by Lucy Bronze.

Russo then directed a header wide, while Mead gave Hampton a big reprieve after latching onto her loose pass; her shot was straight back at the goalkeeper.

Naomi Girma met a flick-on from a corner, but Lotte Wubben-Moy brilliantly kept her back-post header out on the line in a frantic first 20 minutes.

However, Arsenal kept up the pressure after the break, with Mead – who overcame an injury scare – opening the scoring 55 minutes in by beating Hampton with a stunning tight-angled effort.

Alyssa Thompson then flashed wide at the other end, but Arsenal doubled their lead in the 61st minute with an unmarked Caldentey firing past the static Hampton following great work from Mead.

Stina Blackstenius saw a strike ruled out for offside, with the Swede twice denied by Hampton late on, while Erin Cuthbert powered a header wide in Chelsea's best attempt to fight back.

Data Debrief: Stamford Bridge stronghold falls

Chelsea could find themselves nine points behind Man City by the end of the weekend after faltering once more – they have won just two of their last six in the WSL (D2 L2).

And it is the first time Chelsea have lost a WSL match at Stamford Bridge, having won the previous 11 at the stadium by an aggregate score of 25-5.

Not only that, but Arsenal have won away at the Blues for the first time since October 2018, a 5-0 win which was also the last time Chelsea lost by more than one at home in the league.

Sonia Bompastor may feel her side should have done better. Like Arsenal, they had 18 shots, and while they created 1.9 expected goals (xG) to their visitors' 1.51 xG, Chelsea only had one on target.