Mead scores first goals since injury in Arsenal win
Beth Mead scored her first Women’s Super League goals in more than a year with two first-half strikes as Arsenal earned their eighth consecutive win by beating West Ham United at Meadow Park.
Forward Mead, who was recalled by England on Tuesday for the first time since returning from an 11-month injury absence, curled in to double her side’s advantage in the 18th minute and added a second from close range four minutes before the break to make it 3-0.
Frida Maanum’s angled long-range effort had given Arsenal an early lead and deceived Megan Walsh on the goalkeeper’s West Ham debut, although the visitors almost equalized when Viviane Asseyi’s header hit the post and were unlucky when the striker rattled the woodwork again with a shot from long distance after half-time.
Arsenal goalkeeper Manuela Zinsberger kept out Isibeal Atkinson’s late drive with her legs, and Hammers captain Hawa Cissoko came close to a consolation goal but could not bundle the ball over the line during a scramble from a corner.
Mead was making her second successive start following the ruptured anterior cruciate ligament that caused her to miss the 2023 Women’s World Cup, while Netherlands striker Vivianne Miedema made her second appearance since suffering the same injury as a late second-half substitute.
Miedema threatened to embellish the scoreline once she was introduced on a busy afternoon for Walsh, who turned Caitlin Foord’s shot behind during the first half.
Arsenal now face a top-of-the-table meeting with Chelsea at Emirates Stadium in their first fixture after the international break on 10 December, when they will start the day three points behind the champions.
West Ham remain above bottom side Bristol City on goal difference.
Mead joy lights up derby win
This was a day Mead must have dreamed about during her long recovery from the injury she sustained in November 2022. The player of the tournament in England’s Euro 2022 triumph made a long-awaited start for Arsenal in their 3-0 win at Brighton & Hove Albion last week, and she looked to the skies after scoring for the first time in 428 days.
As she did against Brighton, Mead featured for 64 minutes before making way as part of a comeback that significantly improves Arsenal’s title hopes and the Lionesses’ attacking options.
Mead’s manager, Jonas Eidevall, described London derbies as “special” before this game. The continuation of his team’s fine results against West Ham – they have now won nine of 10 WSL matches between the sides – was vital before their next test against leaders Chelsea.
The Blues’ 5-2 win against Leicester means only a five-goal Arsenal victory at Emirates Stadium can depose them in two weeks’ time, but the chance to draw level makes for a tantalizing occasion for Eidevall, Mead and their record-breaking fans.
The game is set to surpass the WSL high of 54,115 recorded by Arsenal on the opening day against Liverpool, with more than 50,000 tickets already sold and their first sell-out at the stadium looking plausible.
This was the first of four successive encounters with London opposition for Arsenal, who host Tottenham in the Continental Cup on 13 December and then visit Spurs in the WSL three days later.
It was West Ham’s fifth consecutive defeat but they responded admirably to falling behind and were inches away from leveling through Asseyi’s expert header from Lisa Evans’ cross.
Manager Rehanne Skinner had called for defensive compactness and cohesion from her players, who allowed Mead space for Arsenal’s second goal and Alessia Russo a run inside the penalty area for their third.
West Ham’s creditable display will give them cause to be optimistic about climbing the crowded lower half of the table. When the WSL returns, though, most of the attention will fall on the contest in north London between two teams on six-match winning runs in the top flight.