Arsenal put on a show to down Chelsea
Vivianne Miedema and Jordan Nobbs both scored twice as Arsenal maintained their 100 per cent start by beating Chelsea 5-0 at Kingsmeadow to end the hosts’ own unbeaten record.
Arsenal captain Kim Little got the ball rolling with a penalty mid-way through the first-half before turning provider for Miedema eight minutes before the break.
Further strikes arrived courtesy of two second-half efforts from Jordan Nobbs and another from Miedema as Chelsea had no answers to Arsenal’s relentless attacking play.
KEY MOMENTS
Chelsea began brightly as Fran Kirby fired at Pauline Peyraud-Magnin and Drew Spence headed wide from a corner on her 150thappearance for the club.
But Arsenal were growing into the contest and were rewarded when Emma Mitchell was felled by Adelina Engman in the area after 21 minutes and Little converted.
Chelsea almost levelled as Ramona Bachmann’s cross-cum-shot hit the post, however Little soon slipped in Miedema who finished via a deflection off Magdalena Eriksson to make it 2-0.
The hosts would have halved the arrears two minutes into the second-half but for a timely challenge from Leah Williamson that thwarted Spence on a rebound attempt.
Arsenal then grabbed the goal of the game after 52 minutes when Jordan Nobbs spectacularly lobbed Telford from a wide-right position.
And it was 4-0 within five minutes as Miedema tucked into an empty net after Beth Mead had been denied.
The scoring was completed when Nobbs doubled up after 68 minutes as Chelsea’s defence capitulated again on an afternoon of contrasting emotions.
MOMENT OF THE MATCH
Chelsea were looking to get back into the contest after falling two goals down as they aimed to preserve their unbeaten home run which stretches over a year.
But those efforts were undone by a moment of good fortune as Jordan Nobbs attempted a cross which fizzed over Carly Telford and into the net.
Nobbs said: “It was a definite cross but I will take it. I was glad to get my second one and ensure that I was a bit alright on the ball but I’m glad to get on the scoresheet.”
WHAT THEY SAID
Arsenal’s Jordan Nobbs said: “I don’t want to get too ahead of ourselves. I think we’ve been performing every single game and it’s no coincidence that we played well after our last few performances.
“It’s not easy coming to Chelsea and playing against top players and I think it’s all credit to every single individual out there because they put in a shift and obviously the quality of our finishing was brilliant again.
“I think whenever we play Chelsea, both teams normally concede and its normally quite end-to-end. I think we always know that they’ve got trouble up front, naturally they’ve got Fran Kirby, [Ramona] Bachmann and the fact that our defence is looking strong and we haven’t been conceding over the last few league games is a real credit to every single player.
“Naturally it’s a big statement but I think us of all people know how quickly the league can change and how quickly points can be dropped in games so it’s a great performance, it’s great for our confidence and our belief and our squad but we still need to take every game as it comes because we have got a lot of tough challenges ahead.
Chelsea boss Emma Hayes said: “I thought we were dominant up until the goal, but at this level you have got to take the first one.
“So when Adelina Engman has a great opportunity to go one nil up [we have to take it]. I thought we stifled them, we suffocated them, and they get their first attack and they get a penalty.
“And then you have to keep your heads cool in that and we didn’t.
“[Vivianne] Miedema I thought was exceptional, scores the second off a deflected goal and then at half-time you know the third’s important.
“I’ve had more good days in football than I have had bad days. Being humbled reminds you you’re alive. As far as I’m concerned this is a part of the journey. We have to sit here and say that our team has gone 25 games unbeaten – we haven’t been beaten for a long time in that regard.”
WHAT’S NEXT?
Arsenal will look to keep up their early season form with a home contest against Reading on Sunday, October 21.
Arsenal’s Jordan Nobbs said: “Obviously we’ve been away internationally so for everyone to come back and train two days and put in a performance like that is phenomenal. Reading are a tough team.
“We know how aggressive and they can score goals as well. Brooke’s very on target with her shots at the moment so we need to be careful and not take these teams for granted. We need to make sure that we’re performing every single game like its Chelsea, Man City.
“We’ve got a lot of fitness in our team at the moment, a lot speed as well. Viv’s [Vivianne Miedema] hold up play is very tidy and it allows us to break off. We still need that defensive block behind us making sure we don’t concede and I wouldn’t have liked to have faced that performance.”
Chelsea will have a chance to bounce back next Sunday when they travel to Birmingham City.
Chelsea manager Emma Hayes said: “I think the league is too topsy-turvy to be over. I think they’re in the driving seat for sure, but I think there will still be surprise results.
“We can’t have it our way all of the time.
“Let’s put life into perspective, it’s not the worst thing in the world. Being humbled occasionally doesn’t do us any harm.”
Chelsea 0
Arsenal 5
Little (pen) 21, Miedema 37, 57, Nobbs 52, 68
Chelsea (4-3-3): Carly Telford; Jess Carter, Millie Bright (c), Magdalena Eriksson, Jonna Andersson; Drew Spence, Maria Thorisdottir, Ji So-Yun; Adelina Engman, Ramona Bachmann, Fran Kirby
Substitutes: Erin Cuthbert for Engman 55, Ali Riley for Andersson 59, Hannah Blundell for Carter 73
Substitutes not used: Hedvig Lindahl, Sophie Ingle, Karen Carney, Beth England
Bookings: Spence 63
Arsenal (4-3-3): Pauline Peyraud-Magnin, Lisa Evans, Leah Williamson, Dominique Bloodworth, Emma Mitchell; Lia Walti, Kim Little (c), Danielle Van De Donk; Jordan Nobbs, Vivianne Miedema, Beth Mead
Substitutes: Katie McCabe for Little 65, Jessica Samuelsson for Mead 86
Substitutes not used: Sari Van Veenendaal, Louise Quinn, Ava Kuyken
Referee: Sam Purkiss
Attendance: 2,020
