Live Blog: West Ham United take on Arsenal Women in the WSL
Leah Williamson returns to Arsenal's starting lineup for the first time since April 2023
Live BLog Sunday Feb 4th
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No side has ever won the WSL having lost more than two games, and Arsenal have now lost their third of the season.
The West Ham players and staff are understandably delighted, and celebrate with each other as the fans share their jubilation in the stands.
Full time: West Ham 2-1 Arsenal
90+5' Superb header away from a West Ham defender to deny Lacasse's firm strike. 2-1
90+4' Ademiluyi comes on for Ueki, who's race is run. 2-1
90+3' Arnold denies Blackstenius' low effort from a narrow angle. Ueki then goes down with cramp on the halfway line. 2-1
90+2' The ball breaks for Maanum who shoots straight at a defender. 2-1
90+2' Russo swings in a cross and it's headed behind for a corner. KCC sprints over to take. 2-1
90+1' Five added minutes for Arsenal to salvage something from this game. 2-1
87' Cooney-Cross fires in a free-kick and Blackstenius heads it over the crossbar. 2-1
86' There's a frantic pace to this game now. Another quick Arsenal counter comes to a premature end as Cooke fouls Russo, and is booked. 2-1
85' And Hayashi is off for Bergmin Lundin, making her debut for West Ham. 2-1
84' West Ham change as Cooke replaces Cissoko. 2-1
84' Catley's ball is deep and headed back across goal into the hands of Arnold. 2-1
82' Arsenal have a free-kick 25 yards out after Russo is brought down. 2-1
82' Shouts for a penalty after Lacasse goes down are waved away. 2-1
80' Ten minutes to go. No side has ever lost three games and won the WSL- Arsenal are losing 2-1 here, having already been beaten by Liverpool and Spurs... 2-1
78' Nearly a repeat of Cissoko's goal as Arnold spills a cross and KCC lobs her shot wide. 2-1
78' Maanum comes on for Foord. 2-1
77' Maanum prepares to come on for Arsenal. 2-1
76' Another chance for Foord but her header is straight at Arnold. 2-1
74' Cissoko is now down with cramp and will receive treatment. 2-1
70' Foord cuts onto her stronger foot but her shot is blocked by Cissoko, who has been a rock at the back. 2-1
69' Gorry breaks forward down the left flank but Fox is back to prevent any further progress. 2-1
67' Another shot is blasted over by Russo after Cissoko's header sat up invitingly. 2-1
64' Lacasse is involved straight away and squares the ball for Russo, who can't hit the target from inside the box. 2-1
64' Lacasse, Blackstenius and Cooney-Cross come on for Mead, Miedema and Pelova. 2-1
62' Fox's low cross picks out Mead but her shot is blocked. 2-1
61' The official attendance is 4,172, including 1,450 travelling Arsenal fans. 2-1
59' Goal! West Ham 2-1 Arsenal: Gorry swings in a free-kick and Zinsberger flaps at it, meaning that Cissoko can place a shot into the top corner. Huge celebrations. 2-1
55' Little to report on after West Ham found an equaliser, but the means of the goal have been contested- replays suggest that the foul was in fact committed outside of the penalty area. 1-1
50' Goal! West Ham 1-1 Arsenal: Asseyi sends Zinsberger the wrong way and it's level! 1-1
49' West Ham have a penalty after a trip from Catley! 0-1
49' West Ham have a penalty after a trip from Catley! 0-1
47' Long ball over the top is brought down by Ueki, but her shot is saved easily by Zinsberger. 0-1
46' Underway for the second half. 0-1
Ilestedt comes on for Williamson at half time.
The teams are back out for the second 45!
Ilestedt has now come out in full kit and is warming up, so she will be coming on for the start of the second half.
All of Arsenal's substitutes with the exception of Amanda Ilestedt are warming up at half time. Laura Wienroither is in attendance and looks in good spirits as she nears a return from her ACL injury.
A frustrating first half for those Arsenal fans until an unmarked Alessia Russo met Steph Catley's corner at the back post and headed past Mackenzie Arnold to give the Gunners the lead.
Half time: West Ham 0-1 Arsenal.
45+4' Snerle and Gorry are both down injured but will be able to continue. West Ham have a free-kick on the halfway line at the end of this first half. It's flicked on to Hayashi but Arsenal defend well. 0-1
45+1' Three added minutes at the end of the first half. 0-1
45+1' Catley goes for goal from the edge of the box and her compatriot Arnold makes a good save. 0-1
44' Goal! West Ham 0-1 Arsenal- Alessia Russo heads home at the back post from Arsenal's corner. 0-1
43' Mead spins away from her marker and finds Pelova, but her shot is tame and easily blocked. 0-0
40' Jess Ziu is forced off injured after that collision with Miedema, and is replaced by Emma Snerle. 0-0
39' Miedema brushes off the West Ham defenders, sends one to the floor and then smashes a shot off the top of the crossbar! So close to an opener for Arsenal. 0--0
39' Miedema brushes off the West Ham defenders, sends one to the floor and then smashes a shot off the top of the crossbar! So close to an opener for Arsenal. 0--0
38' Arsenal attack down the left wing through Russo and Foord shoots wide of the far post on her weaker foot. 0-0
36' First real opportunity for West Ham- Cissoko drives forward and finds Asseyi, but her shot is high and wide. 0-0
35' Pelova works the ball wide to Mead, but her cross is easily claimed by Arnold in goal. 0-0
32' Walti slides a ball into Miedema but she made her run too early and the offside flag is up. 0-0
29' That was the opening for Arsenal! Miedema broke into the box, turned away from one defender but was tackled just before she could get a shot away. 0-0
27' Mead and Foord have swapped wings as Arsenal look to find a way through West Ham's backline. 0-0
24' Russo heads over the bar after Foord couldn't get a shot away from a misplaced West Ham header. 0-0
21' Slow build-up play from Arsenal who move from side to side. They win a corner, which is taken down by a West Ham player. Shouts for handball, and then one shot is blocked and another loops up and is tipped over by Arnold. 0-0
19' Great feet from Gorry but she is brought down, fairly according to the referee. Arsenal break, but Gorry gets back to tackle Miedema. The Australia international is a quality January signing for the Irons. 0-0
17' West Ham go long and Asseyi was briefly through on goal but elected to hold the ball up, and Arsenal win it back. 0-0
16' Arsenal Football Services Executive, and former player, Jodie Taylor is in attendance over to the right of the press box. 0-0
16' Arsenal Football Services Executive, and former player, Jodie Taylor is in attendance over to the right of the press box. 0-0
15' Good defending by Cissoko to slide in and cut out Fox's cross. Catley's corner is floated in and lands on the top of the net. 0-0
12' Asseyi and Smith combine well and Williamson has to block the full-back's cross. Arsenal's counter comes to nothing. 0-0
9' One of those trademark long passes from Williamson just evades Miedema in behind. 0-0
8' Zadorsky floats in a free-kick from the right and Walti heads it away. 0-0
6' Jonas Eidevall looks very frustrated so far as he screams at Mead to play wider on the right. She does, and brings the ball down in the box but can't get a cross away. 0-0
5' Miedema plays through Russo who is prevented by getting a shot away by Hawa Cissoko. 0-0
4' Strong start by Arsenal and some early touches for Williamson at the back. 0-0
1' Underway! 0-0
Both sides line up for team photos while the team captains meet in the middle.
Here come the teams, led out by captains Mackenzie Arnold and Leah Williamson!
The teams are in the tunnel as Arsenal look to continue their perfect start to 2024...
And bubbles are being blown!
Both of West Ham's mascots are in attendance, a huge bear and some kind of scary hammer are trying to rev up the home fans.
Arsenal head back into the dressing room- I’m sure I spotted Lotte Wubben-Moy singing along to Town Called Malice. The pre-match playlist has been superb here.
Head over to @cardyfreddie on X (formerly Twitter) to see just how much of the Chigwell Construction Stadium is taken up by travelling Arsenal fans- they stretch from the halfway line all the way round to the far corner of the stadium.
Arsenal head coach is intently studying West Ham's warm-up from his halfway line vantage point. If the Gunners beat the Irons, they will move level on points with Chelsea at the top of the WSL- Emma Hayes's side play Everton in the late kick-off this evening.
A win for West Ham could take Rehanne Skinner's side up to 9th, depending on other results.
West Ham's important win over Bristol City last weekend saw the Irons move above bottom side Bristol, but are only two points clear of the relegation zone after the Robins drew with Aston Villa yesterday.
Speaking of the Conti Cup, defending champions Arsenal will travel to Dartford on Wednesday night to take on London City Lionesses in the quarter-finals.
Arsenal enjoyed a winning month of January, beating Watford in the FA Cup before WSL victories over Everton and Liverpool either side of a 6-0 win against Reading in the Conti Cup.
And now Leah Williamson leads Arsenal onto the pitch to loud cheers from the travelling fans.
The West Ham players have headed out to warm up at the Chigwell Construction Stadium.
Williamson and Catley replace Ilestedt and McCabe from the Arsenal side that beat Liverpool 2-0.
Leah Williamson makes her first start for Arsenal since April 19, 2023, and takes the captain's armband!
West Ham subs: Walsh, O'Hanlon, Bergman Lundin, Snerle, Harries, Mewis, Denton, Cooke, Ademiluyi.
Arsenal subs: D'Angelo, Williams, Ilestedt, Codina, Cooney-Cross, Little, Maanum, Lacasse, Blackstenius.
West Ham: Arnold; Smith, Shimizu, Tysiak, Ueki, Zadorsky, Ziu, Hayashi, Asseyi, Cissoko.
West Ham: Arnold; Smith, Shimizu, Tysiak, Ueki, Zadorsky, Ziu, Hayashi, Asseyi, Cissoko.
West Ham: Arnold; Smith, Shimizu, Tysiak, Ueki, Zadorsky, Ziu, Hayashi, Asseyi, Cissoko.
Arsenal: Zinsberger; Catley, Wubben-Moy, Williamson, Fox; Walti, Pelova; Foord, Miedema, Mead; Russo.
With the exception of McCabe and the injured Laura Wienroither, Teyah Goldie and Lina Hurtig, Arsenal have a full squad to pick from.
Arsenal will be without Katie McCabe, who picked up a fifth yellow card of the season in the second half against Liverpool last week.
Less than 15 minutes to go until we find out who starts for both sides.
Arsenal fans and players have arrived early and the supporters are in good voice. Over 1,400 have made the journey to Dagenham.
Good morning from Victoria Road! It's West Ham United versus Arsenal in the Women's Super League.