Arsenal Women were held to a 1-1 draw by Chelsea Women in a lively Women’s Super League contest at the Emirates Stadium.
The result lifted the Gunners to fourth place in the table, although other results could change that position.
Chelsea began strongly and nearly went ahead early when Johanna Rytting Kaneryd’s effort struck the post.
The pressure soon paid off as Alyssa Thompson scored her first WSL goal in the ninth minute. The young American forward curled a superb strike into the far corner to give the visitors a deserved lead.
Arsenal looked to respond immediately but struggled to find rhythm in the first half. Despite enjoying more possession as the half progressed, they were unable to create clear chances.
Chelsea remained compact in defence, with captain Millie Bright marshalling the back line effectively to keep the Gunners quiet.
Russo rescues a point for the Gunners
After the break, Arsenal came out stronger and thought they had equalised through Stina Blackstenius.
The Swedish striker fired home eight minutes into the second half, but referee Melissa Burgin disallowed the goal for a handball offence.
The decision drew protests from Arsenal players and supporters, as replays suggested it may have been harsh.
The home side kept pressing as the clock ticked down. Their persistence finally paid off in the 87th minute when Alessia Russo levelled the score with a brilliant curling strike.
Her effort flew past Chelsea goalkeeper Hannah Hampton and lifted the atmosphere inside the Emirates.
Arsenal almost snatched victory in stoppage time. Russo slipped a clever pass through to substitute Frida Maanum, who slotted beyond Hampton.
However, the assistant referee’s flag went up for offside, denying Renée Slegers’ side a dramatic winner. The call looked marginal and sparked frustration among the Arsenal bench.
The draw means Arsenal have now won only four of their opening eight WSL matches this season, leaving them five points behind league leaders Chelsea.
The Blues stay two points clear of Manchester City, who still have a game in hand.
Both sides will feel they could have taken more from the encounter, but the result keeps Chelsea’s title defence on track while Arsenal’s inconsistency continues to cause concern for Slegers and her squad.