Arsenal dent Chelsea's title hopes with 2-0 win at Stamford Bridge
The Gunners secure long-awaited away victory at WSL rivals
Chelsea’s ambitions for a seventh consecutive WSL title took a huge blow on Saturday as London rivals Arsenal defeated them 2-0 at Stamford Bridge.
The result leaves Chelsea six points behind leaders Manchester City. If City beat London City Lionesses tomorrow they will finish the weekend nine points clear of Chelsea and with one hand on the title.
Goals from Beth Mead and Mariona Caldentey in the second half saw Arsenal carve out their first win against Chelsea since the League Cup final in 2024. It also marks the first time they’ve beaten a top-four rival all season, the first WSL win over their London rivals since December 2023, and the first time they’ve beaten Chelsea away in the WSL in eight years.
In typical Arsenal fashion, when they’re out of the title race, they pull off one of their best performances of the season.
The last few weeks have seen the Gunners struggle to find the back of the net in two games against Manchester United. Renee Slegers’ side managed nearly 40 shots across those two fixtures but were unable to score, and it looked like it would be more of the same in Saturday’s first half as Arsenal had the better share of the chances in the first 45 minutes, but failed to score.
Eventually Beth Mead would find the breakthrough in the 55th minute. Millie Bright was dragged out of position in Chelsea’s unconvincing back three, and an on-rushing Alessia Russo was able to play in an unmarked Mead to finish.
This version of Arsenal, unlike what we’ve seen throughout much of the 2025-26 season, smelt blood, as Chelsea’s defence continued to look disorganised.
Caldentey added a second six minutes later and as much as there was still plenty of time on the clock, it did feel like game over for the home side.
Sonia Bompastor, who was already preparing two big substitutions just before the second goal went in, proceeded to throw on Keira Walsh, Lauren James, and later Aggie Beever-Jones, but it was too late for her side to salvage anything from this game.
Even though the result doesn’t change Arsenal’s hopes of securing a first WSL title since 2019, as they sit seven points behind City, it means plenty to Slegers and the Arsenal fan base.
Arsenal are not just playing for pride in the WSL, they need to ensure they secure a place in next year’s Champions League, but this result gives them a huge confidence boost and reminds them that they can still challenge their all-conquering domestic rivals. It gives the fanbase, that have been starved of highlights this season, the sweet taste of a derby win.
There could yet be more twists and turns to come between these two teams. Chelsea go to the Etihad to face Manchester City on 1 February, and it will really be all or nothing in the league. There is then the prospect of an Arsenal-Chelsea quarter-final in the Champions League, if Arsenal progress through their playoff next month.