West Ham shock Arsenal on Williamson’s WSL return

Leah Williamson’s first start since suffering an anterior crucial ligament injury in April was spoiled as West Ham came from behind to beat Arsenal.

The Gunners were 1-0 up through Alessia Russo when Williamson, making her first Women’s Super League (WSL) appearance since 19 April 2023, was taken off at half-time as she eases her way back to full fitness.

But Viviane Asseyi levelled from the penalty spot five minutes after the break and West Ham were ahead before the hour as Hawa Cissoko’s cool first-time finish punished an error from Arsenal goalkeeper Manuela Zinsberger.

Arsenal piled on the pressure in search of an equaliser but Rehanne Skinner’s side held on for their first WSL win over the Gunners to move up to ninth, five points clear of the solitary relegation place.

Jonas Eidevall’s side stay third, three points behind leaders Chelsea having played a game more.

Such a setback did not seem likely as Arsenal dominated the first half. Vivianne Miedema twice came close to opening the scoring but was denied first by a goal-saving challenge from Honoka Hayashi and then the crossbar.

The goal eventually came two minutes before the break when West Ham keeper Mackenzie Arnold came for a corner but saw it flick off the head of team-mate Kirsty Smith, leaving an unmarked Russo to head into an empty net at the far post.

Williamson went off with Arsenal in control but, within five minutes of the restart, Steph Catley tripped Riko Ueki and referee Melissa Burgin judged that the foul was inside the box.

Asseyi sent Zinsberger the wrong way from 12 yards and, eight minutes later, the Hammers were ahead.

Zinsberger got no distance on her punch from a West Ham free-kick and centre-back Cissoko lifted the ball into an unguarded net from just inside the area with the confidence of a striker.

Russo blazed over Arsenal’s best opportunity to equalise after good work by Cloe Lacasse down the right and West Ham clung on for a win that has big ramifications at both ends of the table.

Relive West Ham v Arsenal and follow all of Sunday’s WSL actionWest Ham boost survival hopesBeginning the day just two points off the bottom, anything West Ham could get against title-chasing Arsenal would have been a bonus.

That certainly seemed the case at half-time with the Hammers, who had become the first side in WSL history to name a starting XI without an English player, behind and distinctly second best.

It was a different story in the second period with the early penalty, after Ueki had been felled as she ran on to a through ball from the impressive Hayashi, giving Skinner’s side something to hold on to.

More than that, with Arsenal slightly stunned, West Ham pressed on and got the second courtesy of Cissoko.

From that point on they defended valiantly, fighting for every ball as they did all they could to repel wave after wave of Arsenal attack.

They required some luck with Russo misfiring after they had been carved open but they will feel their second-half efforts warranted some good fortune.

A week ago, only goal difference was keeping them out of the drop zone but after back-to-back wins. Now, the outlook for West Ham is a whole lot brighter.

Williamson return a boost but Gunners’ title hopes dentedLeah Williamson started her first game since suffering a knee injury last AprilEverything seemed to be looking up for Arsenal after one of their most complete performances of the season at Liverpool last weekend.

Miedema scored her first goal since returning from her own ACL injury, they were still in touch at the top of the table and now Williamson was back, too.

They bossed proceedings in the first half at the Chigwell Construction Stadium. Williamson calmly dictated possession from the back and was rarely tested defensively, such was Arsenal’s authority.

By full-time, though, they were left pondering whether their title chances are over.

You can afford to lose precious few points if you want to win the WSL and, with Chelsea now having the chance to open up a six-point gap, Arsenal are likely to have to be flawless over the next nine games.

Williamson made her first appearance since injury off the bench against Reading in the Conti Cup last month, and having her back is undoubtedly a boost for both Arsenal and England.

However, West Ham denied her a winning WSL comeback and Arsenal are left now in the unenviable position of needing Emma Hayes’ Chelsea to slip up if they are to end the campaign top of the pile.

Line-upsWest Ham WomenFormation 3-5-2

1Arnold23CissokoSubstituted forCookeat 85’minutesBooked at 86mins5Tysiak14Zadorsky3Shimizu19HayashiSubstituted forBergman-Lundinat 85’minutes22Gorry16ZiuSubstituted forSnerleat 40’minutes2SmithBooked at 78mins20AsseyiBooked at 90mins9UekiSubstituted forAdemiluyiat 90+4’minutesSubstitutes7Bergman-Lundin8Snerle12Harries15Mewis18Denton21Cooke25Walsh30O’Hanlon35AdemiluyiArsenal WomenFormation 4-2-3-1

1Zinsberger2Fox6WilliamsonSubstituted forIlestedtat 45’minutes3Wubben-Moy7Catley13Wälti21PelovaSubstituted forCooney-Crossat 63’minutes9MeadSubstituted forLacasseat 63’minutesBooked at 88mins11MiedemaSubstituted forBlacksteniusat 63’minutes19FoordSubstituted forMaanumat 78’minutes23RussoSubstitutes10Little12Maanum14D’Angelo24Lacasse25Blackstenius27Codina28Ilestedt32Cooney-Cross40WilliamsReferee:Melissa Burgin

Attendance:4,172

Match StatsLive TextMatch ends, West Ham United Women 2, Arsenal Women 1.

Second Half ends, West Ham United Women 2, Arsenal Women 1.

Viviane Asseyi (West Ham United Women) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Lia Wälti (Arsenal Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Foul by Viviane Asseyi (West Ham United Women).

Attempt blocked. Cloé Lacasse (Arsenal Women) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Alessia Russo.

Attempt missed. Alessia Russo (Arsenal Women) header from very close range is too high. Assisted by Steph Catley with a cross following a corner.

Delay over. They are ready to continue.

Substitution, West Ham United Women. Princess Ademiluyi replaces Riko Ueki because of an injury.

Delay in match because of an injury Riko Ueki (West Ham United Women).

Corner, Arsenal Women. Conceded by Mackenzie Arnold.

Attempt saved. Stina Blackstenius (Arsenal Women) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Emily Fox with a through ball.

Attempt blocked. Frida Maanum (Arsenal Women) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Kyra Cooney-Cross with a cross.

Corner, Arsenal Women. Conceded by Amber Tysiak.

Stina Blackstenius (Arsenal Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Foul by Shannon Cooke (West Ham United Women).

Foul by Kyra Cooney-Cross (Arsenal Women).

Katrina Gorry (West Ham United Women) wins a free kick on the left wing.

Cloé Lacasse (Arsenal Women) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Foul by Cloé Lacasse (Arsenal Women).