The first half ended goalless as the two sides matched each other, but it was Arsenal who struck first after the break as Beth Mead put the Gunners ahead with a curling effort.

Their lead was soon doubled when Mead picked out Mariona Caldentey on the edge of the box, and the Spain international fired home.

Bompastor used all five of her substitutes as the Blues looked to put a dent in Arsenal's lead, and while Lauren James, Erin Cuthbert and Sjoeke Nusken all had chances, we couldn't find the breakthrough we were looking for.

Today simply wasn't our day, but we live to fight again when we face Women's Super League leaders Manchester City next Sunday.

Early chances

Sonia Bompastor made just one alteration from the side that defeated Manchester City in midweek as Sjoeke Nusken made way for Guro Reiten.

After pulling off a number of fine saves in that contest, Hannah Hampton had to be alive to the danger of an early shot from Kim Little, but the England international dealt with her strike comfortably. Skipper Millie Bright was then called into action to make a key sliding tackle on Little inside the box, before playing it out to Reiten.

The Norwegian then made a brilliant long pass to Sam Kerr on the counter, but when the attack reached Alyssa Thompson, the Gunners managed to snuff out the danger.

Girma goes close

Chelsea were close to taking the lead with a quarter of an hour gone when Erin Cuthbert swung a free-kick into the box, and Naomi Girma managed to get in front of her marker only to head narrowly wide of the far post.

And when Sandy Baltimore swung in a corner from the right-hand side, Girma popped up at the opposite post and went close for a second time.

At the other end, the American defender was called into action once more as she slid in and blocked a cross from the away side before it could reach Mead. As the half-time whistle blew, Arsenal had just edged the possession stats with 60 per cent of the total, but Chelsea matched the visitors equally in terms of chances in the opening 45 minutes.

Hammer blow

The visitors came out strongly after half-time and took the lead when Alessia Russo set up Mead with a square pass across the box, and the England striker netted with a curling finish.

The Blues rallied when Baltimore got to the by-line and delivered her cross, but it was just too high to reach Ellie Carpenter and substitute Lauren James at the back post.

But Arsenal had their tails up and soon doubled the lead when Mead turned provider and picked out Mariona Caldentey, who finished from a central position on the edge of the box.

Attempts to rally

As we looked to find our way back into the contest, James floated an inviting cross into the box, only for Cuthbert to fly in and direct the ball just over the crossbar with a diving header.

LJ then fired over a chance of her own with a fine shot from the edge of the box, and next the Blues number ten crossed superbly well into the danger area, but Sjoeke Nusken headed wide.

Despite those late chances, Chelsea simply couldn't find a way through after the pair of quick-fire second-half goals from the visitors.

What it means...

Chelsea remain six points behind Manchester City in the WSL table, with the Cityzens still to face London City Lionesses on Sunday lunchtime.

What comes next...

We face another big test against rivals Man City at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday, February 1.

The teams

Chelsea: Hampton, Carpenter, Bright (c) (Rytting Kaneryd 66), Girma, Bronze, Baltimore, Cuthbert (Nusken 77), Kaptein (Beever-Jones 66), Reiten (Walsh 56), Thompson, Kerr (James 56)
Unused subs: Spencer, Peng, Buurman, Potter

Arsenal: Borbe, Fox (Codina 88), Wubben-Moy, Catley, Caldentey (Holmberg 79), Mead (Pelova 69), Little (c), McCabe (Hinds 88), Foord, Russo, Blackstenius
Unused subs: Van Domselaar, Williams, Harwood
Scorers: Mead 54, Caldentey 61
Booked: Mead 15

Referee: Kirsty Dowle