Alessia Russo is through on goal but it's a tame effort and the offside flag goes up anyway. She just made her run too soon.

Gilly Flaherty
Former Chelsea and England defender on BBC Two

Poor defensively from Arsenal as they have bodies behind the ball.

They have three defensive players and they can not allow that much space, soon as Johanna Rytting Kaneyrd comes inside you have to close the gap so she cannot pull the trigger.

Emma Sanders
BBC Sport at Emirates Stadium

The Emirates Stadium has been completely silenced. You could hear a pin drop when that went in.

Emma Hayes wasn't interested in celebrations though. She immediately called over Niamh Charles and Jess Carter.

There's an issue at the back when Arsenal counter-attack and it's been driving her mad.

Emma Hayes will be pleased with how her side have responded to going behind.

Did Sam Kerr block Manuela Zinsberger's view for the goal? Replays show possibly she did but there's no VAR in the WSL so the goal stands.

Emma Sanders
BBC Sport at Emirates Stadium

The composure from Beth Mead then was incredible.

There were three Chelsea defenders back on the goalline and she had the intelligence to cut inside and fire it into the roof of the net and over all of their heads.

Mead's return from injury has been nothing short of brilliant and she loves a big goal at the Emirates.

Image source, Getty Images

Considering she only came back a few weeks ago that is Beth Mead's third goal of the WSL season so far.

Back to business in no time.

Gilly Flaherty
Former Chelsea and England defender on BBC Two

What absolute incredible atmosphere here!

Beth Mead cuts inside and smashes it into the roof of the net - such composure. So many bodies on the line for her to put it past them.

It's all Arsenal so far.

Alessia Russo latches onto the ball down the right but Jess Carter shakes her off.

Emma Sanders
BBC Sport at Emirates Stadium

Emma Hayes was barking instructions at Jess Carter after a bit of pressure from Alessia Russo. Carter couldn't hear and Hayes was getting frustrated so Niamh Charles had to step in and help translate!

Gilly Flaherty
Former Chelsea and England defender on BBC Two

Todays game is going to be about individual battles. Whoever wins their battle will set the tone for the rest of the game.

With Chelsea they have so much [squad depth] there you can not anticipate who their starting 11 is going to be because of the changes Emma Hayes can make.

Katie McCabe does really well with a driving run down the right-hand side. McCabe finds Kim Little who lays it off for Beth Mead but the England forward scuffs her effort and in steps Niamh Charles, who was brilliant for England in the international break.

Kim Little sets the tone for this one with a challenge on Erin Cuthbert early on. That should be an interesting battle in the middle of the park.

The players are so excited to get this one started they kick off before the referee's whistle.

Off we go a moment later.

Chelsea

Chelsea manager Emma Hayes, speaking to the BBC before the game.

On Sam Kerr: "I think people have to understand Sam Kerr played through the World Cup with a significant calf injury.

"She has been carrying that injury throughout and what she has done for club and country over the last four to five years is nothing short of remarkable.

"Her body could not stand more and she needed the time to get herself right."

On Kerr's fitness: "She is getting there. We have had to manage her load and it has certainly been no holiday for Sam to get her best prepared for this game."

On Guro Reiten's return: "She is a significant player for us and one we have missed.

"She has worked hard in the international break and Melanie Leupolz dropped out this morning, we had to send her home as she had a bit of tummy ache."

On nerves before the game: "I guess I don't think too much about it. I live about 20 minutes away so it is a short drive home!"

Image source, Getty Images

It's almost sold out at the Emirates this afternoon and Arsenal boss Jonas Eidevall, who won Manager of the Month for November, was keen to push on for a full house.

"We're 2,000 tickets short of being sold out so let's push - you don't want to miss this game," said Eidevall on Friday.

Both managers were keen to downplay the significance of this contest in their press conferences on Friday with Eidevall saying "the performance is always the focus" and Chelsea manager Emma Hayes said it is "business as usual" for her side.

"You can't approach any game as bigger or smaller than another, you have to approach everything in exactly the same way," said Hayes.

"Arsenal are an unbelievable counter attacking team. They are a team that have been together for a long period of time. They are a top team."

It's been a difficult old week for England. Their hopes of competing at the Paris 2024 Olympics with Team GB came to an end on Tuesday after they failed to reach the semi-final of the Nations League.

England thrashed Scotland 6-0 but it still wasn't enough to progress after the Netherlands beat Belgium 4-0 in a dramatic finish to book their place in the semi-final.

England were the nominated nation to qualify for the Olympics on behalf of Team GB and needed to reach the Nations League final to qualify for the France tournament.

Manchester City set the pace in Saturday's match, coming from behind to beat Aston Villa 2-1 thanks to two goals from Lauren Hemp.

That moves them up to second place in the table, level with Arsenal and three points behind Chelsea.

City boss Gareth Taylor said in his press conference on Thursday that a draw between Arsenal and Chelsea would be favourable for his side. He'll be tuning in this afternoon, I'm sure.