Chelsea pile pressure on Arsenal with 2-1 win

Emma Sanders
BBC Sport women’s football news reporter at Emirates Stadium

Chelsea claimed a significant victory to increase pressure on Arsenal boss Jonas Eidevall as his side fell further behind in the Women's Super League title race.

Mayra Ramirez's inventive overhead kick bounced into the bottom corner within four minutes to give Chelsea the perfect start, and matters got worse for the Gunners when Sandy Baltimore was given a free header to make it 2-0 shortly afterwards.

Arsenal boss Eidevall needed a response from his players and got one as Caitlin Foord danced around Lucy Bronze to fire the ball past goalkeeper Hannah Hampton just before half-time at Emirates Stadium.

But they could not find a much-needed second - despite substitute Stina Blackstenius volleying against the underside of the crossbar with minutes to go - as Chelsea showed grit to hold out and added salt to Arsenal's wounds following a disappointing week.

A goalless draw with Everton and a thumping defeat by Bayern Munich meant it was a crucial match for Arsenal - and this was a damaging result.

Chelsea, meanwhile, still appear to have teething problems under new manager Sonia Bompastor but maintain their unbeaten start to the season.

They were confronted for most of the second half, with defenders Millie Bright and Kadeisha Buchanan making numerous blocks as Arsenal's Foord and Alessia Russo came close, and goalkeeper Hannah Hampton had to make some big saves late on.

At the other end, Chelsea's Ramirez remained a threat until her substitution midway through the second half, having picked up an earlier knock.

It was a significant victory for Chelsea though, putting them just ahead of title rivals Manchester City - who play Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday - while Arsenal fall four points behind.

Significant result despite battling performance

Getty Images

Mayra Ramirez scored her first goal in the WSL this season

There was no disguising the magnitude of the fixture in the build-up this week.

Arsenal sat sixth in the table with just one win from three and were thumped by Bayern Munich in Europe on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Chelsea had won their three matches under Bompastor.

That was some context behind the intensity that had been building for Arsenal manager Eidevall, who is in his fourth season in charge of the club and has not delivered a WSL title.

A London derby against rivals Chelsea was arguably the toughest test Eidevall could face, with many fans entering the Emirates Stadium on Saturday demanding a response having already expressed a desire for him to stand down from his role as manager.

So when Baltimore headed in Chelsea's second goal within 16 minutes, having been allowed to run into the six-yard box completely unmarked, frustrations bubbled over.

Leah Williamson was given a torrid afternoon by Chelsea striker Ramirez and she spent the majority of the first half complaining to officials as things didn't seem to be going her way.

But Arsenal's persistence did not falter and Foord, their standout player of the afternoon, danced past England full-back Bronze and fired the ball into the corner from a tight angle to give them a lifeline going into the half-time break.

As the second half started, the rain fell heavily, and Chelsea started to struggle in the face of Arsenal's relentless onslaught.

Russo's powerful volley gave goalkeeper Hampton something to think about in stoppage time, after she watched Blackstenius' strike smack the underside of the crossbar.

But despite their fight, the result leaves Arsenal trailing league leaders Chelsea by four points, having played just four matches, and discontent towards Eidevall is likely to intensify.

Meanwhile, defensive frailties clearly remain for Chelsea and they allowed Arsenal back into the game, but Bompastor's winning run continues.

"It was not a concern but there is always room for improvement and I clearly see where we need to improve as a team," said Bompastor.

"We need to be more consistent. We have experienced players and need to manage the tempo in the game.

"It is hard to come here to play against a really good team away from home. We suffered for sure but it’s a good thing we did not concede a goal."

Players are giving everything - Eidevall

Player of the match

M. Ramírez
7.57
19 C. Foord
6.61
11 K. McCabe
6.09
3 L. Wubben-Moy
5.80
25 S. Blackstenius
5.71
23 A. Russo
5.70
14 D. van Domselaar
5.66
2 E. Fox
5.52
32 K. Cooney-Cross
5.51
13 L. Wälti
5.51
8 Mariona Caldentey
5.30
12 F. Maanum
5.26
10 K. Little
5.24
9 B. Mead
5.20
6 L. Williamson
5.15
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