Victoria Pelova has scored her second goal in the Women's Super League this season, scoring for the first time since 12 November 2023 against Leicester City.

Lindsay Johnson
Ex-England defender on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

Jordan Nobbs dwells on the ball, so many Arsenal players surrounding the ball and they win it back.

Alessia Russo takes the initial shot which is saved by Anna Leat, but she parries it into the middle of the box and it falls kindly for Victoria Pelova to smash it in.

Villa were caught playing out from the back, guilty of overplaying there and were punished.

Lindsay Johnson
Ex-England defender on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

There is a slight touch, the right foot of Rachel Daly on Beth Mead's left foot.

The contact comes outside the box, so it is not a penalty, but Arsenal can feel hard done by that they didn't get a free kick on the edge of the Villa box there.

Beth Mead wants a penalty after being tripped by Rachel Daly.

Referee Stacey Pearson shakes her head, and it may well have been just outside the penalty area, but Daly got away with that one,

Image source, Getty Images

Lindsay Johnson
Ex-England defender on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

With Villa being so organised and sitting deep, Arsenal really need to make the most of their chances to counter attack.

They just held up the break then and allowed Villa the time to recover and get back into position.

A bright start to the second half and Villa goalscorer Ebony Salmon drills in a powerful cross, but it is too difficult for Rachel Daly and she can't control it.

From a cross into the box, England captain Leah Williamson flicks on a header, but Beth Mead can't get a shot away.

Lindsay Johnson
Ex-England defender on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

Reall good start down the left hand side by Arsenal.

In the end it is Maz Pacheco that gets the touch to stop the chance on goal.

A positive start.

Arsenal's Cloe Lacasse bursts down the left wing and fires in a cross, but good defending from Maz Pacheco to get a vital block in.

Image source, Reuters

Back under way at Villa Park.

Aston Villa have a record of one win and two losses when leading at half-time in the Women's Super League this season, while Arsenal have two wins and one loss when trailing at half-time.

In October, Villa led 1-0 at half-time at the Emirates, Arsenal dramatically won it 2-1 thanks to injury-time goals from Katie McCabe and Alessia Russo.

Lindsay Johnson
Ex-England defender on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

Image source, Getty Images

There will be a few people not expecting this scoreline but I think Villa have got their tactics spot on tonight. Carla Ward has stuck with a new formation, that 3-4-3 and five at the back when out of possession.

What has been really impressive is the midfield, they have compressed the area and stopped Arsenal from creating, players like Kim Little have been reduced to very little chances and time.

Another 45 minutes to go but Villa have put in a really good, disciplined, and organised half.

Arsenal, just as they did at the Emirates against Villa earlier in the season, go in a goal behind.

Jonas Eidevall needs a big team talk. His side are 45 minutes away from being completely out of the WSL title race once and for all.

Image source, PA Media

Image source, Getty Images

Lindsay Johnson
Ex-England defender on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

The Villa players are starting to puff their cheeks now, they have worked relentlessly in this first half and are needing that half time break.

Emily Fox wastefully shoots well over for the visitors.

Image source, Getty Images

Three minutes of injury time at the end of the first half.

Aston Villa have scored the first goal in 11 WSL matches this season. In the previous 10 times when they have taken the lead, they have only gone on to win five of them, with one draw and four losses.

Lindsay Johnson
Ex-England defender on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

There's some real full body blocks going in from Aston Villa in their own penalty area.

They'll just be keen to keep this one goal lead until half time.