Week 15 of the Barclays Women’s Super League saw Arsenal host West Ham in a London derby, with the Gunners launching an inspired comeback after falling behind to an early brace from West Ham’s Amber Tysiak.
Chloe Kelly, starting for the North London side for the first time since returning to the club in January, pulled a goal back before the break – though Shekiera Martinez restored West Ham’s two-goal lead just after half-time.
But Renée Slegers’ Arsenal fought back valiantly, with just two minutes separating Katie McCabe’s volley and the Leah Williamson equaliser that restored parity at Meadow Park.
Mariona Caldentey secured all three points from the penalty spot after a Kirsty Smith handball.
As it happened
Much like Arsenal’s recent trip to Manchester, Sunday’s clash at Meadow Park was an end-to-end encounter. Alessia Russo looked to have an early scoring opportunity inside the first minute, though this was cleared by the visiting defence.
Vivianne Asseyi won a corner for the Hammers not long after, sending it into the box for Amber Tysiak to head it past Daphne van Domselaar in the 7th minute. She netted her brace five minutes later, following a scramble in the box.
Embed from Getty ImagesArsenal were only able to reduce the deficit on the stroke of half-time, with Mariona Caldentey crossing for Chloe Kelly to net her first goal for the Gunners since her January return.
West Ham’s Shakeira Martinez restored the visitors’ two-goal advantage in the 51st minute after finding her way through the Arsenal defence. It was time for Renée Slegers to make changes; the Dutchwoman introduced an Australian duo of Kyra Cooney-Cross and Caitlin Foord.
Foord had an almost instant impact, powering a cross in from the flanks for Katie McCabe, who managed to smash Arsenal’s second goal of the afternoon past Kinga Szemik from the tightest of tight angles.
Less than two minutes later, Leah Williamson equalised from a Chloe Kelly corner, with her header bouncing just over the line to restore parity. The England defender had another chance not long after, but her volley was parried away.
But Arsenal’s sensational comeback was completed moments later when Kirsty Smith was judged to have handled McCabe’s cross into the box. Mariona was able to capitalise from the penalty spot and send Arsenal 4-3 up, completing a quickfire rout of three goals in six minutes.
Embed from Getty ImagesArsenal seized control of the game from that point on: Stina Blackstenius shot straight at Szemik and McCabe tried a shot from distance, but it remained a one goal lead for the Gunners.
Tysiak came close to completing her hat-trick following another scramble inside the penalty area, though her effort was cleared off the line before Daphne van Domselaar was forced to produce one final save to preserve Arsenal’s slender lead.
The Gunners close the gap to Chelsea at the top of the table to eight points, as a result of the Blues’ 2-2 draw against Brighton & Hove Albion. West Ham United are ninth in the table, with 14 points.
The lineups
ARS: van Domselaar; Fox, Williamson, Catley, McCabe; Wälti, Little; Maanum, Kelly, Russo, Mariona
WHU: Szemik; Smith, Siren, Tysiak, Brynjarsdóttir; Nyström, Sáez, Martinez; Asseyi, Hanshaw, Piubel