Late goals from Beth Mead and an own goal from Lotte Wubben-Moy led to an edge-of-your-seat finish to a London derby that had major implications at the top of the WSL.
In the final game of Women’s Football Weekend, Arsenal hosted their London rivals Chelsea to try to bounce back from their first defeat of the season last week against Manchester United.
The Gunners came into this tie knowing a win would take them back to the summit of the WSL after Manchester United drew in the Manchester derby on Saturday, while Chelsea looked to move into second.
Chelsea would be without Fran Kirby for this match due to injury and Sam Kerr would start the game on the bench, with Beth England favoured up front.
Kim Little would be forced off the pitch early with a cut lip and almost picked out a perfect pass to Vivianne Miedema seconds after coming back on.
The majority of the first half was a cagey affair with plenty of fouls and neither team creating many dangerous chances.
With two minutes left in the half, Arsenal would come the closest to opening the scoring as Caitlin Foord struck a long-range effort that rattled the top of the crossbar and would drop back down onto the crossbar again before Chelsea were able to clear it away.
Chelsea manager Emma Hayes would make a change at halftime, bringing on Sam Kerr to replace Melanie Leupolz.
Chelsea would start the second half on the front foot and would almost break the dead lock as a cross was headed on by Pernille Harder towards Erin Cuthbert whose subsequent shot was blocked.
Just before the hour mark, Chelsea would squander another chance as a wayward clearance was intercepted and passed to Beth England inside the Arsenal penalty area, England would miskick the ball off target for a goal kick.
The majority of the second half was scrappy and the game looked destined to end in a stalemate. Neither team could get a clear shot on goal, let alone a shot that would trouble the opposing goalkeeper.
Pernille Harder had a chance to score that was blocked and Miedema had a volley with Chelsea keeper Ann-Katrin Berger out of position deflected behind for a corner.
It looked as if both teams would share the spoils but with five minutes left of the ninety, Vivianne Miedema raced ahead of Millie Bright and played the ball across to Beth Mead, who finished emphatically from close range.
Chelsea would respond under spectacular circumstances as just as stoppage time began, Pernille Harder dribbled towards the touchline and attempted a cross. Her effort was deflected by Lotte Wubben-Moy and looped over the head of Arsenal keeper Manuela Zinsberger to level the score.
Two minutes later, substitute Sam Kerr had a chance to snatch all three points for the Blues as she was played in behind and managed to chip the ball over the oncoming Zinsberger. Kerr’s effort would just bounce wide of the post however.
The game would end one-one and the result lifts both teams into second and third respectively. Chelsea maintain their unbeaten record and are three points behind leaders Manchester United with a game in hand.
The Inbound Observer 