Arsenal 1-1 Chelsea: Visitors level in late drama to prevent Gunners going top

Chelsea earn draw with rivals Arsenal after last-gasp equaliser

Chelsea hit a dramatic last-gasp derby equaliser to stop London rivals Arsenal going top of the Women's Super League.

The Gunners looked to have won the game when Vivianne Miedema beat England defender Millie Bright to set up Beth Mead for an 86th-minute opener.

But Pernille Harder's speculative effort from the right then hit luckless defender Lotte Wubben-Moy and deflected in for an outrageous own goal.

That allowed Chelsea to stretch their long unbeaten WSL record to 27 games.

The visitors might even have won it in stoppage time with their best opening of the game but, when Sam Kerr raced through, she chipped just wide of the post.

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Beth Mead's late goal for Arsenal looked set to condemn Chelsea to a first WSL defeat in almost two years before the late equaliser

The WSL champions remain in third place, two points behind second-placed Arsenal, who are now a point closer to early leaders Manchester United.

In a game of few real chances, Mead's late opener was the only shot on target. However, Arsenal had also gone close to taking the lead with an eye-catching effort of their own on 44 minutes.

Caitlin Foord's strike from just outside the box hit the bar, the ball bounced up and then dropped back down on to the bar again, before being punched away by Chelsea keeper Ann-Katrin Berger.

Netherlands forward Miedema looked to have missed the best chance to win the game on 81 minutes when she fired just past the post. But then came that remarkable finale as both teams went through elation and despair in quick succession.

The two sides are back in WSL action on 6 December when Arsenal host Birmingham City and Chelsea entertain West Ham United.

Arsenal boss Joe Montemurro:

"I've always believed in this team. I've always believed in the personalities of this team.

"If the intention is right, we'll defend well, we'll attack well. I've probably never been more disappointed not to take all three points.

"I'm proud to say that, against one of the best teams in Europe, we dictated what we needed to do, we defended well.

"And when I hear 'long ball, second ball' from the opposition team, with the quality of players they have got, it brings a smile to my face for them to be resorting to those things."

Chelsea boss Emma Hayes:

"It was an average performance but an unbelievable point for us. And I'm pleased because these are the games I fear.

"Pernille Harder's run creates a little bit of luck. Sometimes you need a little bit of that because I didn't think we got a lot of luck.

"I want full credit to Joe and his team. They did really well. Arsenal dominated the second ball. They played their game plan better than we played ours.

"Although we weren't at our best, we still didn't lose, and I'm super proud of that because I know it never goes according to plan. "

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