Chelsea's Erin Cuthbert strikes twice to inflict Arsenal's first home defeat of the season

Chelsea inflicted Arsenal's first home defeat of the season thanks to a brace from Erin Cuthbert
Chelsea inflicted Arsenal's first home defeat of the season thanks to a brace from Erin Cuthbert Credit: GETTY IMAGES

Arsenal 1 (Miedema 80) Chelsea 2 (Cuthbert 26, 63)

Chelsea were never going to be as obliging towards their London rivals as that afternoon when, back in October, they demonstrated the softest of centres and Arsenal, with ludicrous ease, plundered five without reply.

That defeat has since proved a watershed moment for the reigning champions. Since then, Chelsea have won their last ten in all competitions with an aggregate score of 38-0. In any other season it would be the form of champions, but instead they have been jostling with Manchester City and Birmingham amid the logjam of teams Arsenal have watched with relative comfort from their rear-view mirror.

As good as Chelsea have been, there was always the ‘but’ of an Arsenal side so indomitable they began today with a goal tally of 46 from 11 league games. Now, though, Chelsea are just two points behind, and in their blustering, venomous display to inflict Arsenal’s first home defeat of the season were nearly perfect.

Arsenal will know that in truth it could have been much worse. The visitors were firmly in control for great stretches, with the opener - Erin Cuthbert rising highest to nod home a Hannah Blundell cross - the beginning of a torture Arsenal did not resist for an hour.

“I think everyone that’s been watching us can see that we’re a team that’s in the ascendancy,” said Chelsea boss Emma Hayes. “We didn’t take the first position in the league until April last year but we’re enjoying the view above us. I want us to improve in the cup competitons knowing that the league is out of our hands. We can’t control it - but if we’re picking up points, anything can happen.”

Erin Cuthbert heads Chelsea into the lead in the first half
Erin Cuthbert heads Chelsea into the lead in the first half Credit: GETTY IMAGES

The growing line outside the Arsenal treatment room - seven first-team players - was always going to catch up with them at some point. Danielle van de Donk was ruled out before kick-off with a thigh injury and Beth Mead lasted until the break before she was subbed complaining of pain to her knee after landing awkwardly. Montemurro is loathe to make excuses but in a season where he has been forced to use players who have only just finished their GCSEs it now feels more evident than ever that Arsenal are just about hanging together.

“We’ve had to adjust the way we play and that takes time,” Montemurro reflected. “Our organisation wasn’t good and we got punished for it. It’s a game-by-game proposition: we don’t know if players are coming back, when players are coming back and how bad the injuries are.”

In the face of Chelsea’s irrepressible energy, his side could neither contain their opponents or hurt them. Vivianne Miedema - 22 goals in 17 games - ploughed a lone furrow at the top as her side, previously so pointed, were reduced to prodding Chelsea with a particularly blunt stick.

Cuthbert adds a second just after the hour mark at Meadow Park
Cuthbert adds a second just after the hour mark at Meadow Park Credit: CHELSEA FC

Chelsea’s passion could have spilled over when Katie McCabe clipped captain Karen Carney’s heels to halt a Chelsea break. An incensed Carney jabbed McCabe in the face with her shoulder. The rare burst of lost composure was the only blight on Carney’s otherwise excellent first-half performance, but the post-match inquest is likely to centre on why the referee failed to notice McCabe’s first challenge and whether she was too lenient towards Carney.

Unruffled, Chelsea’s dominance persisted. Cuthbert, having earlier crossed for England to slot home before she was thwarted by the flag, hit the post before the break before adding her side’s second with a crisp volley to convert Sophie Ingle’s clipped delivery.

Arsenal looked out for the count until Kim Little’s cross found Miedema to whip her right foot behind her and guide the ball over the line with a deft first-time finish - the first time Arsenal had demonstrated any of their usual swagger.

From then it was a tense finale. Arsenal nearly drew level via Miedema with a minute of normal time left, but Magdalena Eriksson’s hooked clearance preserved Chelsea’s lead.

License this content