West Ham 2-1 Arsenal: Gunners beaten on Leah Williamson's first start since ACL injury
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WSL highlights: West Ham stun Arsenal with comeback win
Leah Williamson's first start since suffering an anterior crucial ligament injury in April was spoiled as West Ham came from behind to beat Arsenal.
The Gunners were 1-0 up through Alessia Russo when Williamson, making her first Women's Super League (WSL) appearance since 19 April 2023, was taken off at half-time as she eases her way back to full fitness.
But Viviane Asseyi levelled from the penalty spot five minutes after the break and West Ham were ahead before the hour as Hawa Cissoko's cool first-time finish punished an error from Arsenal goalkeeper Manuela Zinsberger.
Arsenal piled on the pressure in search of an equaliser but Rehanne Skinner's side held on for their first WSL win over the Gunners to move up to ninth, five points clear of the solitary relegation place.
Jonas Eidevall's side stay third, six points behind leaders Chelsea.
WSL: Hawa Cissoko fires West Ham ahead against Arsenal
Such a setback did not seem likely as Arsenal dominated the first half. Vivianne Miedema twice came close to opening the scoring but was denied first by a goal-saving challenge from Honoka Hayashi and then the crossbar.
The goal eventually came two minutes before the break when West Ham keeper Mackenzie Arnold came for a corner but saw it flick off the head of team-mate Kirsty Smith, leaving an unmarked Russo to head into an empty net at the far post.
Williamson went off with Arsenal in control but, within five minutes of the restart, Steph Catley tripped Riko Ueki and referee Melissa Burgin judged that the foul was inside the box.
Asseyi sent Zinsberger the wrong way from 12 yards and, eight minutes later, the Hammers were ahead.
Zinsberger got no distance on her punch from a West Ham free-kick and centre-back Cissoko lifted the ball into an unguarded net from just inside the area with the confidence of a striker.
Russo blazed over Arsenal's best opportunity to equalise after good work by Cloe Lacasse down the right and West Ham clung on for a win that has big ramifications at both ends of the table.
West Ham boost survival hopes
Beginning the day just two points off the bottom, anything West Ham could get against title-chasing Arsenal would have been a bonus.
That certainly seemed the case at half-time with the Hammers, who had become the first side in WSL history to name a starting XI without an English player, behind and distinctly second best.
It was a different story in the second period with the early penalty, after Ueki had been felled as she ran on to a through ball from the impressive Hayashi, giving Skinner's side something to hold on to.
More than that, with Arsenal slightly stunned, West Ham pressed on and got the second courtesy of Cissoko.
From that point on they defended valiantly, fighting for every ball as they did all they could to repel wave after wave of Arsenal attack.
They required some luck with Russo misfiring after they had been carved open but they will feel their second-half efforts warranted some good fortune.
A week ago, only goal difference was keeping them out of the drop zone but after back-to-back wins. Now, the outlook for West Ham is a whole lot brighter.
Williamson return a boost but Gunners' title hopes dented
Leah Williamson started her first game since suffering a knee injury last April
Everything seemed to be looking up for Arsenal after one of their most complete performances of the season at Liverpool last weekend.
Miedema scored her first goal since returning from her own ACL injury, they were still in touch at the top of the table and now Williamson was back, too.
They bossed proceedings in the first half at the Chigwell Construction Stadium. Williamson calmly dictated possession from the back and was rarely tested defensively, such was Arsenal's authority.
By full-time, though, they were left pondering whether their title chances are over.
You can afford to lose precious few points if you want to win the WSL and, with Chelsea now having a six-point lead, Arsenal are likely to have to be flawless over the next nine games.
Williamson made her first appearance since injury off the bench against Reading in the Conti Cup last month, and having her back is undoubtedly a boost for both Arsenal and England.
However, West Ham denied her a winning WSL comeback and Arsenal are left now in the unenviable position of needing Emma Hayes' Chelsea to slip up if they are to end the campaign top of the pile.