Unstoppable Sam Kerr fires up Chelsea with goal spree, as Beth Mead sparks dramatic Arsenal comeback

Kerr back firing in blue

As the announcer at Kingsmeadow read out the names of the Chelsea players on Saturday evening, a particular cheer stood out among the rest. The crowd responded with enthusiasm to the names of Mille Bright and Niamh Charles, but it was the mention of Sam Kerr's name that ignited the most passionate response from the devoted Blues supporters.

Beloved in this region, it's evident why - she has scored an impressive 89 goals in the last three seasons alone.

However, the applause was particularly fervent this time around. It marked Kerr's first start of the season, as a calf injury sidelined her for a significant portion of Australia's World Cup campaign earlier in the summer.

Emma Hayes confirmed earlier in the week that Kerr was available for selection. She showed great enthusiasm to score just minutes after starting against West Ham. Unfortunately, she missed two opportunities by heading crosses from Lauren James off-target. In the midst of these chances, a goal she scored was disallowed due to offside. It seemed like luck was not on her side that night.

However, she persevered and eventually, a perfectly placed cross from Niamh Charles on the opposite side made her task relatively easy. She registered her first goal of the season, relieving any pressure or concerns.

Impressive Charles key to slick Chelsea

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Niamh Charles emerged as Chelsea's standout performer in their victory over West Ham. While Sam Kerr's goal may steal the spotlight, it is Charles who truly deserves acknowledgment. Charles' aggressive runs down the flanks significantly contributed to Chelsea's impressive stats, including an xG of 2.21, 39 touches in the opposition box, and 231 passes in the final third.

This marked Chelsea's initial shutout in the current season, yet it was Charles' remarkable performance in the attacking area that stood out, propelling her team forward and providing precise crosses into the penalty area.

Impressively, Charles, playing as a full-back, contributed with 71 touches in the opposition's final third. Remarkably, she already has three assists in three league matches this season.

Manager Emma Hayes has praised Charles' versatility as she can play as a left-back, wing-back, or left winger. Charles herself acknowledged the importance of wingers in providing width for the team's creative players. However, this understates her impressive impact on the game. She delivered a perfectly executed pass for Kerr's winning goal, and her incredible running power created numerous opportunities on the left side. Charles continues to improve as a professional, delivering a top performance.

Positive early signs continue for Skinner's Hammers

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Riko Ueki takes on Melanie Leupolz

Rehanne Skinner is already impressing West Ham fans who initially had doubts about her appointment this summer. Despite losing two out of their first three matches, those defeats were against Manchester City and Chelsea, both teams expected to be among the top contenders this season.

The other result, a 2-0 victory at Brighton, is the lone positive outcome thus far. However, there was much more to the scoreline at Chelsea on Saturday than initially apparent.

Skinner expressed, "When you leave Chelsea feeling disappointed about not earning any points, it speaks volumes." And it truly did. Although the Blues are not operating at full capacity yet, their streak of 17 consecutive home league wins speaks for itself.

Emma Harries, Viviane Asseyi, Riko Ueki, and Kirsty Smith will all reflect on whether they could have capitalized on their opportunities in both halves before Erin Cuthbert's late and decisive goal.

At certain moments, West Ham appeared to be the more dedicated team, triumphing in 50-50 challenges all over the field, while Chelsea struggled to maintain possession and frequently surrendered possession.

They can take a lot from performances like this to suggest when they face the kind of opposition they need to beat to mount a top-half assault, wins will follow.Ron Walker

Roord can take Man City to the next level

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Jill Roord bagged two goals for Manchester City in their match against Bristol City on Sunday. Despite a relatively uneventful summer in terms of new signings, Roord has the potential to become one of the standout transfers for the team.

Armed with WSL experience, Champions League pedigree, and international accolades, she has seamlessly embraced the English league. In just three WSL matches, including her opening three, she has already recorded three goals. Two of her most recent goals were exceptionally executed on Sunday, showcasing her finesse. With each touch, she exudes a remarkable level of class. Not only does she possess a keen instinct for scoring goals, but she also contributes to maintaining midfield stability. The Netherlands international tenaciously fights for every ball, demonstrating her adeptness at winning challenges.

Man City needs a player like her to take them to the next level after narrowly missing out on Champions League football last season.

Khadija Shaw deserves credit as well. She showcased her finest performance for Man City, scoring her first two goals of the season. She also had the highest number of shots (8) and touches in the opponent's box (19) compared to any other player in the match.

Special Mead shows strength in Arsenal depth

The small jink to create some space on the edge of the area shows the technical quality the Lionesses attacker has. Not that anyone needed any reminding of that.

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Beth Mead's return changed the game as Arsenal beat Aston Villa

Mead exemplifies quick thinking and mental strength by choosing to pass to Alessia Russo instead of shooting, resulting in the winning goal against Aston Villa. Arsenal manager Jonas Eidevall praised her decision, noting, "She demonstrates what mental strength looks like in that moment. It shows her exceptional awareness that taking a shot could lead to a blocked attempt and a potential transition against us."

During her brief 15-minute appearance, Mead made a significant impact by assisting in the winning goal and setting up a one-on-one opportunity for Stina Blackstenius. However, the most notable outcome was the fear she instilled in Aston Villa's defenders. Eidevall brilliantly orchestrated Mead's comeback, eliciting an enthusiastic response from the 35,000 spectators at Emirates Stadium upon her entry in the 88th minute. As an additional 12 minutes were added to the match, the anticipation grew even more. It became evident that something significant was about to unfold.

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Alessia Russo rejoices after securing a last-minute victory for Arsenal against Aston Villa. Mead's exceptional skills further exemplify the increased strength of Arsenal's squad. Victoria Pelova, who also entered as a substitute like Mead, contributed to a goal setup. Additionally, Blackstenius narrowly hit the post during this sequence, while Chloe Lacasse posed a challenge with her straightforward approach.

The firepower at Chelsea, under Emma Hayes, is reminiscent of Arsenal's situation, where the substitutes are equally as talented and impactful as the starters. Although Arsenal currently need to make progress to catch up with the leaders, there is no denying their capability to compete, particularly with exceptional players like Mead on their team.

Spurs show new-found resolve in Brighton comeback

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Grace Clinton celebrates with her team-mates after giving Spurs a 2-1 lead at Brighton

Tottenham showed a newfound determination on Sunday as Robert Vilahamn's team staged a comeback to secure their first victory in the WSL in nearly two years, ending a disappointing 19-game winless streak. Spurs supporters may have had a sense of déjà vu when Brighton's leading goal-scorer Elisabeth Terland headed in a goal from Maisie Symonds' corner on the left-wing just eight minutes into the game at the Amex stadium.

And with the game heading into first-half stoppage time and still no response from the visitors, few on the south coast would have backed Spurs to turn the contest on its head.

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Martha Thomas celebrates after equalising for Spurs at Brighton

That is precisely what they accomplished, courtesy of two tantalizing goals before and after halftime. Martha Thomas and Grace Clinton both struck the back of the net, leaving spectators craving for more. Clinton's 35-yard masterpiece, a powerful and curving shot, could easily be considered the goal of the season. Spurs exhibited remarkable resilience as they rallied from behind, a feat they had not achieved since defeating Aston Villa in December 2021. Ria Percival's late effort ultimately secured the victory for the team.

Derby win should be catalyst for Everton

Most people supporting Everton will agree that the beginning of the season has been less than ideal. However, this situation has the potential to be a catalyst for change. It's now evident that Everton has some promising talent in their recently revamped team.

During the summer, they lost a significant amount of experience. Interestingly, most of the pre-match discussions focused on Liverpool's impressive recruitment. Matt Beard's team has strengthened their roster, especially in defense, and up until their match against Everton, they hadn't allowed a single goal.

However, it was Brian Sorensen who displayed excellent tactical planning by effectively utilizing the experienced players. Meg Finnigan, Everton's longest-serving player, scored the winning goal, while Toni Duggan's impactful performance off the bench cannot be ignored. This victory can be defined as a classic example of seizing the opportunity. With this newfound momentum, Sorensen can now look forward to climbing up the table from the bottom and aiming for a much more favorable position.