Alyssa Thompson's first-half strike downed wasteful Arsenal as Chelsea secured a 1-0 win that moved them third in the Women's Super League. 

Chelsea took advantage of a sloppy piece of defending from Arsenal six minutes before the break, and Renee Slegers' side could not find an equaliser as they tasted defeat for the first time this season.

Arsenal started fairly well, with Kyra Cooney-Cross causing problems, though she saw an early shot blocked by her own team-mate.

Kim Little – making her 184th WSL appearance for Arsenal – almost caught Chelsea out with a cross that deflected towards goal and had Hannah Hampton worried, but it struck the crossbar.

Mariona Caldentey also struck the woodwork; Alessia Russo started a fast break, picking out Little on the right, and her switch found the Spaniard, who drilled her low shot against the foot of the near post.

But Arsenal created their own problems in the 39th minute, with Steph Catley's loose clearance pounced upon. Kiera Walsh's powerful strike was pushed away by Anneke Borbe, but only as far as Thompson, who emphatically fired into the roof of the net from close range.

Melvine Malard then broke forward on the counter-attack four minutes later, racing down the right with nobody closing her down, but Borbe made herself big to smother the angled attempt.

It was a much-improved Arsenal who emerged after the break, with Lisa Baum and Caldentey both forcing Hampton into action.

Malard then ghosted between two Arsenal defenders only to flick a close-range effort wide, while Stina Blackstenius raced in behind only to chip over under pressure from Hampton, though the offside flag would have denied her anyway.

Arsenal's scoring woes go on as Chelsea stay unbeaten

It was a fairly cagey London derby between two sides who desperately needed a win so they did not lose sight of leaders Manchester City.

Chelsea are now unbeaten across their opening four games of a WSL campaign for the fourth successive season, while Arsenal only have five points to their name at this stage for the second time in the last three seasons (also 2024-25).

Arsenal's attacking troubles have drawn the eye this season as they have netted just two goals this campaign, and despite piling the pressure on Chelsea, especially in the closing stages, they never looked likely to get a goal.

They had 18 shots overall, but only two of those were on target, and their 1.04 expected goals (xG) tells the story of their lack of spark in the box as they dawdled over their chances.

This loss ends Arsenal's 20-game unbeaten league streak, but they will feel they could have had a late equaliser from the spot after a handball by Ellie Carpenter in the box, but nothing was given, with her arm tight to her body when the ball hit her.

Slegers had already beaten Sonia Bompastor twice this calendar year, but the Frenchwoman ensured she came out on top this time, even if she thinks Chelsea could have had more goals after getting seven of their 13 shots on target.