WSL: Arsenal come from behind to beat Aston Villa 3-1 - as it happened

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Arsenal fuelled their chase of the Women's Super League title as they came from behind to beat Aston Villa at Villa Park.

Jonas Eidevall's side dominated from start to finish and should really have enjoyed a greater reward than their three second-half goals from Victoria Pelova, Lotte Wubben-Moy and Stina Blackstenius.

The Gunners' victory keeps them six points behind the top two, Chelsea and Manchester City, with only five matches remaining.

Ebony Salmon's first-half goal had put the hosts ahead in a match that was delayed by 45 minutes due to the visitors arriving late at the ground because of traffic disruption.

Aston Villa boss Carla Ward speaking to Sky Sports: "We knew we'd have to be resolute and compact. It was important we stuck together and dug in tonight and we did that. We had to ride a number of waves but we did that really well. It's frustrating to come away having conceded two late goals."

What players said post-match: "I still haven't been allowed near them [due to sickness]. I did radio down to let them know I had immense pride. We have to build on that. We need to take that into games that are winnable and try and get some points on the board,"

On aiming for a top-six finish: "It's achievable. It's tough. Manchester United, Liverpool and Tottenham are all fighting for that. We have to try and get as many points as we possibly can."

Aston Villa have lost 17 points from winning positions in the Women's Super League this season, more than any other team.

Arsenal attempted 37 shots in this game, the highest total for any team in a single match in the WSL this campaign.

Leah Williamson attempted 135 passes in this game, the highest total for a Arsenal player in the WSL in 2023-24.

Arsenal boss Jonas Eidevall speaking to Sky Sports: "We had to accumulate a lot of shots and a lot of chances to force into conceding but she had a great game. I thought we did as a team as well.

"First half was decent from us but we conceded a goal from their only chance in it. The way the team responded, to keep piling on pressure and creating chances was great. A really good response from us."

On if confidence was lacking: "No. I don't think so. It was a team that does problem solving on the pitch."

On what three points can do for rest of season: "It's one game at a time. more importantly it's to see what a performance like this can do. Second half was a great display of playing the Arsenal way."

On the League Cup final: "Really looking forward to that. We have great memories from the final last year. We're going to do our best to recreate them."

Aston Villa forward Ebony Salmon speaking to Sky Sports: "We knew it was going to be a tough game, like you said bodies on the line for the 90 minutes. Every single player out there worked as hard as they could.

"The coaches just said that if we take that hard work and effort into every game we will start picking up points."

On positives to take forward: "There were positive moments in the game and as a team we need to do better to take those chances when they do arrive."

On her goal: "As a striker I want to score as many goals as I can and I am just trying to get into those positions as much as possible."

On Anna Leat's performance in goal: "She kept us in the game a lot. The game ended 3-1 but it could have been a lot more if it wasn't for her."

On if Villa can still crack the top six this season: "Yeah definitely. As you can see the league is tight and what we have been talking about is finding consistency. As I said, if we take that performance, take that hard work and put it in every week, then I think we will pick up points and definitely break into that top six."

Arsenal beat Chelsea 4-1 at Emirates Stadium in December, but lost 3-1 at Stamford Bridge last week and the two teams will meet again in the final of the Women's League Cup on 31 March at Wolves' Molineux stadium.

For Aston Villa, they are next in action on 30 March with a home WSL match against Leicester City at the Poundland Bescot Stadium.

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West Ham boss Rehanne Skinner says she is "getting a bit sick" of incorrect decisions after having a goal ruled out against Chelsea on Sunday.

The Hammers lost 2-0 to Emma Hayes' side in the Women's Super League, with Honoka Hayashi flagged offside despite replays showing the contrary.

The Hammers boss believes bringing a video assistant referee (VAR) into the women's game is something to consider.

"The goal was more than a metre onside," Skinner told Sky Sports.

Chelsea went ahead early on through Aggie Beever-Jones, but Hayashi's goal was ruled offside just 12 minutes later and could have changed the complexion of the game if it had stood.

Replays suggested the goal should have been allowed, showing the Japan midfielder was behind the last defender as she ran on to a flicked header. But without VAR there was no opportunity to overturn the decision.

"Last week [against Liverpool] there were two goals scored against us, neither of which should have stood," she added.

"Tottenham game, we get another apology after the game for a goal that should never have stood for offside. I'm getting a bit sick of it to be honest."

SMS Message: Whilst there will inevitably, and rightly, conversation about the official decisions this weekend, I really hope the focus is on the fact that these officials need support. We've seen huge changes for players on and off the field, but the fact the officials aren't full time will always be a limitation. I really hope this is sorted ASAP, for the officials sake as much as the future of the game. from Ryan in Birmingham

Whilst there will inevitably, and rightly, conversation about the official decisions this weekend, I really hope the focus is on the fact that these officials need support. We've seen huge changes for players on and off the field, but the fact the officials aren't full time will always be a limitation. I really hope this is sorted ASAP, for the officials sake as much as the future of the game.

SMS Message: Brilliant comeback win for Arsenal but on the earlier incident in the Chelsea vs West Ham game, come on we need VAR in the WSL. from Sulaimon

Brilliant comeback win for Arsenal but on the earlier incident in the Chelsea vs West Ham game, come on we need VAR in the WSL.

Arsenal goalscorer Victoria Pelova speaking to Sky Sports: "We all needed a bit of confidence after the Chelsea game. We showed even at 1-0 down we can turn it around so that's a good thing."

On if confidence had been lacking lately: "It goes up and down always with confidence. When we beat Chelsea 4-1 we had confidence. It's not like it goes away but it's good we won today and how we did today."

On if title hopes are still alive: "We're just going to keep fighting until the end of the competition. It's always on."

On the upcoming League Cup final against Chelsea: "We just want to win the Conti Cup final. We want to win the prize."

Arsenal are six points behind both Chelsea and Manchester City with five league matches to go.

Aston Villa are seventh, but in no danger of going down.

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A good effort from Aston Villa but to play like that for 90 minutes against the likes of Arsenal was always going to be difficult with the players that they have.

You could see that the amount of efforts that Arsenal had on goal, they were just relentless in that second half. At some point the patient build up play was bound to play off and it did.

They got three goals in the second half to get the three points, but it could have been a lot more if it were not for Anna Leat in the Villa goal.

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Arsenal come from behind to get the three points to keep their slim WSL title hopes alive.

Ebony Salmon scored against the run of play for the hosts in what was their only attempt of the whole match.

But the Gunners were superb after the restart with goals from Victoria Pelova, Lotte Wubben-Moy and Stina Blackstenius giving the visitors the victory. Anna Leat made some excellent saves in the home goal, but she could not save them all.

It has been all one-way traffic this second half. These are the overall stats.

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A pull of the shorts sees Arsenal substitute Kyra Cooney-Cross get a deserved yellow card.

The subs have made all the difference for Arsenal in this second half.

Steph Catley and Cailtin Foord on the left hand side have brought energy, and Stina Blackstenius has come on and looked hungry to score.

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Six added minutes of stoppage time.

A good move again from Arsenal. It just looks like Stina Blackstenius is offside as she runs onto it.

I thought she should have played it first time but she went for goal herself, she slips and it is handball. That is what the Aston Villa players are complaining about.

It looked like she was hugging the ball before she stood up and put the ball into the net.

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You can't say that Arsenal don't deserve it! They have been relentless in the second half, attack after attack, shot after shot. It came from the least likely chance of them all.

The cross comes in from the left ad Lotte Wubben-moy rises highest to nod across goal. Anna Leat had already committed the other way and it goes into the opposite bottom corner.