We closed the gap to Chelsea to one point in the Barclays Women’s Super League with an outstanding 2-0 win at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.
Beth Mead opened the scoring early in the second half before setting up Mariona Caldentey for our second moments later to bring about wild celebrations in the away end.
### FIRST HALF
We got off to a promising start as Katie McCabe stung the palms of Hannah Hampton and the ball came out to Alessia Russo on the rebound, her shot being blocked, before Emily Fox then fired over from the edge of the area.
Russo headed wide from a Stina Blackstenius cross moments later, before Chelsea had their first sight of goal when Erin Cuthbert’s strike was deflected wide off of Kim Little for a corner.
Cuthbert’s free-kick from the left wing then flew to the back post and was headed wide, before McCabe tried her luck from distance at the other end, shooting wide of the post with power.
A Chelsea corner reached Naomi Girma at the back post in the 21st minute, but Lotte Wubben-Moy was on hand to head away the danger. Then, a cross from the right was headed wide by Wieke Kaptein.
With half-time approaching it looked as though there could be an opening when Blackstenius pulled the ball back to Mead, who shifted it onto her right foot before shooting wide of the bottom left.
Sam Kerr scooped an effort wide of the far post as Steph Catley went down with what looked like a nasty fall, but she was okay to carry on.
Cuthbert had one more opportunity for the home side before the break, firing over from distance. Caitlin Foord’s cross then came out to Mead and her delivery was headed wide by Blackstenius.
Anneke Borbe was perfectly placed to catch a powerful strike from Lucy Bronze on the brink of half-time and we went into the interval goalless.
### SECOND HALF
Russo was first to have a go for us in the second half as she aimed towards the bottom left corner from outside the 18-yard box, but Hampton got down to her right to make the save.
There was nothing the Chelsea goalkeeper could do about our next effort though, as Catley played the ball inside to to Russo who went out right to Mead, who slotted into the bottom left for 1-0. The scenes of the away end, who were in full voice all afternoon, were a joy to watch!
Alyssa Thompson went straight up the other end and shot wide of the bottom right in response, but our best form of defence was attack as we doubled our lead moments later.
Mead was involved again, this time finding Mariona, who set herself and placed it past Hampton for 2-0. It was Mead’s 50th assist for us in the WSL.
She then made way for Victoria Pelova as our first change in the 69th minute.
Aggie Beever-Jones hooked one wide as Chelsea tried to respond, but we kept hunting for a third as Fox drifted in from the right and went for goal on her left foot, only for Hampton to tip it over the bar.
Guro Reiten headed wide with the hosts looking for a way back into the game. We then made our next change with Smilla Holmberg replacing Mariona.
Lauren James was next to miss the target and we almost made it 3-0 with 10 minutes to go when Russo founds Blackstenius, whose shot was spilled by Hampton, but the latter managed to regain possession.
Sjoeke Nusken headed over as Chelsea created plenty of chances but failed to trouble Borbe.
After a Pelova shot was deflected wide in the 87th minute, we introduced Laia Codina and Taylor Hinds in place of Fox and McCabe.
James drilled one wide of the bottom right late on and five minutes of time were added on at the end of the second half but, after Blackstenius had one more effort denied by Hampton and James shot wide again, we held onto our lead to secure our first away win against Chelsea in the WSL since 2018.
### WHAT'S NEXT
We have the opportunity to reach a final when we take on AS FAR in the FIFA Women's Champions Cup semi-finals at Brentford Stadium in Wednesday's 6pm kick-off. [Tickets are now open to general sale!](https://www.eticketing.co.uk/brentfordfc/EDP/Event/Index/934?position=2&_gl=1*h7p680*_gcl_au*MTcwMjkxODk4OS4xNzY3NjE3MzM5*_ga*MTc4OTg5MzIwNC4xNjkyODcxMDg4*_ga_WP53Y0W9VR*czE3NjkyNTA4MzYkbzIzNzMkZzEkdDE3NjkyNTIxOTUkajYwJGwwJGgw)
The final (6pm) and third place play-off match (2.45pm) will take place at Arsenal Stadium on Sunday, February 1. The other current semi-finalists are Corinthians and Gotham FC. [Get your tickets!](https://www.eticketing.co.uk/arsenal/EDP/Event/Index/3796?_gl=1*342lxg*_gcl_au*MTcwMjkxODk4OS4xNzY3NjE3MzM5*_ga*MTc4OTg5MzIwNC4xNjkyODcxMDg4*_ga_WP53Y0W9VR*czE3NjkyNTA4MzYkbzIzNzMkZzEkdDE3NjkyNTIyNjckajYwJGwwJGgw)
Copyright 2026 The Arsenal Football Club Limited. Permission to use quotations from this article is granted subject to appropriate credit being given to www.arsenal.com as the source.