Match ends, Arsenal Women 1, Chelsea FC Women 2.
Arsenal WomenArsenal Women1Chelsea WomenChelsea Women2
Erin Cuthbert scored twice as Chelsea survived a late scare to beat Arsenal and throw the Women's Super League title race wide open.
The Scotland midfielder put the title holders ahead with a towering header from Hannah Blundell's pinpoint cross.
Chelsea's Beth England had an effort ruled out for offside before Cuthbert volleyed in a second from 15 yards.
Vivianne Miedema tapped in to halve Arsenal's deficit and went close twice more late on, but the visitors held on.
- Relive Chelsea's win at Arsenal as it happened
- Man City go top with win at West Ham
- Last-gasp Liverpool goal sinks Yeovil
- Blues beaten by Bristol City in Skinner's last game
- Brighton and Everton play out stalemate
The defeat was only Arsenal's second of the season but they lost their grip on top spot after Manchester City's win at West Ham later on Sunday.
Those results have left Arsenal a point behind City - but Joe Montemurro's Gunners do have a game in hand on their title rivals.
Defending WSL champions Chelsea are now just two points adrift of Arsenal in third and they dominated at Meadow Park until the closing stages.
Arsenal were without 10-goal midfielder Danielle van de Donk through injury and did not register a shot on target until her fellow Netherlands international Miedema claimed her 15th league goal of the campaign - equalling the record season's tally set last year by Birmingham's Ellen White.
It was the first goal Chelsea had conceded since a 5-0 thrashing by Arsenal in October and Miedema forced two saves from Blues keeper Hedvig Lindahl as the Gunners came on strong towards the end.
The visitors were also fortunate not to concede a penalty when Jess Carter tugged back Miedema's shirt in the box, but their overall performance merited the three points.
Line-ups
Arsenal Women
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 18Peyraud-Magnin
- 6Williamson
- 16Quinn
- 4Arnth JensenSubstituted forVejeat 77'minutes
- 15McCabe
- 20Bloodworth
- 19Wälti
- 17Evans
- 10Little
- 23MeadSubstituted forMitchellat 45'minutes
- 11Miedema
Substitutes
- 1van Veenendaal
- 2Veje
- 3Mitchell
- 24Kuyken
Chelsea Women
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Lindahl
- 3Blundell
- 4Bright
- 16Eriksson
- 20Andersson
- 10Ji
- 5IngleBooked at 80mins
- 24Spence
- 22CuthbertSubstituted forRileyat 66'minutes
- 15EnglandSubstituted forCarterat 79'minutes
- 8CarneyBooked at 38minsSubstituted forKirbyat 67'minutes
Substitutes
- 6Asante
- 7Carter
- 11Riley
- 14Kirby
- 21Cooper
- 23Bachmann
- 28Telford
- Referee:
- Rebecca Welch
- Attendance:
- 3,019
Match Stats
Home TeamArsenal WomenAway TeamChelsea Women
- Possession
- Home52%
- Away48%
- Shots
- Home4
- Away15
- Shots on Target
- Home3
- Away5
- Corners
- Home6
- Away3
- Fouls
- Home9
- Away13
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Arsenal Women 1, Chelsea FC Women 2.
Post update
Corner, Arsenal Women. Conceded by Magdalena Eriksson.
Post update
Corner, Arsenal Women. Conceded by Magdalena Eriksson.
Post update
Corner, Arsenal Women. Conceded by Hedvig Lindahl.
Post update
Attempt saved. Vivianne Miedema (Arsenal Women) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Louise Quinn.
Post update
Attempt saved. Francesca Kirby (Chelsea FC Women) left footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Hannah Blundell.
Post update
Attempt saved. Vivianne Miedema (Arsenal Women) header from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Kim Little with a cross.
Post update
Foul by Jonna Andersson (Chelsea FC Women).
Post update
Katie McCabe (Arsenal Women) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Post update
Corner, Arsenal Women. Conceded by Sophie Ingle.
Post update
Sophie Ingle (Chelsea FC Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Dominique Bloodworth (Arsenal Women).
Goal!
Goal! Arsenal Women 1, Chelsea FC Women 2. Vivianne Miedema (Arsenal Women) right footed shot from very close range to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Kim Little with a cross.
Booking
Sophie Ingle (Chelsea FC Women) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Foul by Sophie Ingle (Chelsea FC Women).
Post update
Katie McCabe (Arsenal Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution
Substitution, Chelsea FC Women. Jessica Carter replaces Beth England.
Post update
Drew Spence (Chelsea FC Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Vivianne Miedema (Arsenal Women).
