Chelsea’s win over Arsenal blows WSL title race wide open

MEADOW PARK — The Women’s Super League title race was reopened yesterday as defending champions Chelsea gained revenge for the 5-0 humbling inflicted upon them by Arsenal in October. Scottish international Erin Cuthbert scored twice as the Gunners suffered their first home defeat of the season. Vivianne Miedema’s late goal raised home hopes within a 3,000-plus crowd but an equaliser proved elusive.

Victory would have sent Arsenal briefly five points clear but a few hours later they were knocked off top spot as Manchester City leapfrogged them into first place with a 3-1 win at West Ham.

Arsenal still have a match in hand on City and Chelsea – who are third, two points adrift – but a mounting injury crisis means they are vulnerable as the season moves towards the business end.

Already bereft of several players, notably England midfielder Jordan Nobbs, Arsenal were also without in-form Danielle van der Donk yesterday.

Stubborn defence

Chelsea’s own injury problems are easing, with Fran Kirby and Ramona Bachmann both on the bench having returned to action in midweek. They had also won 10 successive matches without conceding a goal. Their confidence showed as they took the match to Arsenal, controlling midfield, and it was no surprise when they took a 27th-minute lead. Karen Carney fed Hannah Blundell on the right and her cross was headed powerfully in by Cuthbert at the far post.

The 20-year-old’s second, soon after the hour, was driven in from the edge of the box after Louise Quinn, under pressure from Beth England, could only head Sophie Ingle’s deep cross into her path.

At that stage Chelsea’s only moment of concern had come when Carney was perhaps fortunate only to be booked after reacting strongly to a tackle by Katie McCabe.

However, they endured a nervous finish after Kim Little, whose sharpness is returning, set up Miedema’s 15th goal of the season with 10 minutes left. Miedema thrice went close to levelling in a frantic finale but was denied by smart goalkeeping from Hedvig Lindahl and a fine tackle by Magda Eriksson.

‘Better all over the park’

“You give teams like Chelsea room to play and they will hurt you. We weren’t good today and we were punished for it,” said Arsenal manager Joe Montemurro. “The soccer gods are not smiling on us. We have seven players in the grandstand and have had to adjust the way we play. That is taking time.”

However, the Australian said he was not planning on bringing players in during the transfer window.

Chelsea manager Emma Hayes, referring to the earlier meeting between the sides, said: “That was a moment in time. It was never going to happen again. There’s no way there was a 5-0 difference between us and today showed that. We were better all over the park for long spells.”

Hayes has previously written off Chelsea’s title hopes but she added: “We cannot control it but if we pick up points, who knows? We didn’t go top last year until April.”