LONDON – Arsenal stayed in contention for the Women’s Super League title with leaders Chelsea after an early goal by Beth Mead and a superb second-half double by Caitlin Foord earned them a 3-0 home win over Tottenham Hotspur.
Second-placed Arsenal can top the table if they beat sixth-placed West Ham and Chelsea, whom they trail by one point, loses to or draws with third-placed Manchester United in the last matchday of the season on Sunday.
Forward Mead scored the opener in the fourth minute after latching on to a brilliant long-range pass from defender Leah Williamson and smashing the ball into the corner of the net, Reuters reported.
Arsenal wasted chances to extend their lead before forward Foord slipped the ball into the net from close range following a rebound.
Foord added the third in the 82nd minute with a long-range strike.
However, Arsenal has taken the race to the wire, and are a point behind the Blues ahead of Sunday’s games. The Gunners travel to West Ham while Chelsea hosts Manchester United.
Reflecting on the title race, Eidevall told the BBC: “I think it’s exciting. It’s not an easy situation for Chelsea – going out feeling like you have something to lose. Of course, we need to win.
“We’ll attack the game and make sure we finish off like we believe.
“Let’s believe and if it doesn’t work, then of course we have to be really gutted about that, but we have to believe that anything can happen for us.”
Arsenal made sure their local rivals were on the back foot from the get-go, scoring inside four minutes.
Leah Williamson found Beth Mead in the middle of the park, with the Arsenal forward making an unchallenged run into the area before sending her shot past the goalkeeper.
After an indifferent start to the second half, Arsenal soon found their scoring boots thanks to Foord. Her first came from a well-worked corner, with Mead finding the feet of Vivianne Miedema. Her effort from the left was pushed away by goalkeeper Tinja-Riikka Korpela, but Foord was lurking at the far post to slot home.
But it was her second goal that was the pick of the evening’s strikes. Mead again was involved, flicking the ball into Foord’s feet. She took a touch to steady herself before curling a sensational effort past a helpless Korpela and securing a vital three points.
Tottenham had the chance to score a late consolation when they were awarded a last-minute penalty – Lotte Wubben-Moy fouling Angela Addison – but the latter’s effort cannoned off the post.
Arsenal dominated possession for much of the first half, but Spurs’ best attacking moment came shortly after the goal as the hosts struggled to deal with a corner. Ashleigh Neville was waiting to pounce, but Miedema was there to clear off the line.
