Arsenal Ladies extended their good run of form by coming from behind to defeat Notts County Ladies. Jess Clarke opened the scoring early on, something that hindered Arsenal against Liverpool Ladies earlier in the campaign, before Dan Carter and Natalia Pablos Sanchon headed the Gunners in front. This maintains the pressure on both Chelsea Ladies and Sunderland Ladies at the top of Women's Super League One.

Arsenal Ladies went second in the Women's Super League with a 2-1 win over Notts County Ladies in front of a crowd of 804 at Boreham Wood, the game starting in an intense fashion with the opening goal coming in the fourth minute. The goal coming from Jess Clarke, a really calm finish as she rounded the Arsenal 'keeper Emma Byrne following a great through ball by Leanne Crichton and rolled the ball into an empty net.

It was only after this goal that Arsenal Ladies began to settle into the match and began to control possession. It took Arsenal 22 minutes before they were able to force Carly Telford into a save as the Notts County Ladies woman had to push a shot from Arsenal’s Natalia Pablos Sanchon.

Telford, only returning to the side following a dislocated shoulder that she picked up in the World Cup, was really keeping her team in the game as she was making a lot of saves to keep the Notts County lead intact. Arsenal were reduced to shooting from long range and this was not testing Telford in the Notts County goal. The best chance for the home side fell to new signing Marta Corredera but her effort hit the side netting. Arsenal went in at the break one goal down.

Arsenal come from behind

Arsenal came out for the second half a different animal and were immediately taking the the game to Notts County. Pablos Sanchon attempted to curl an effort towards goal only for Telford to make a fine save yet again, this was followed by a long range effort from striker Jade Bailey that went over the bar. 

This set the tone for the home side and, on the hour mark, Arsenal found themselves on level terms as midfielder Dan Carter headed in, unmarked, from a Marta Corredera corner. Five minutes after getting the equaliser the Gunners nearly went ahead after Chioma Ubogagu’s goalbound effort was spilled by Telford, but she was quick to clean up following her mistake. 

Arsenal then went ahead in the 70th minute from another corner as Natalia reacted first after Jemma Rose’s header came back off the crossbar, the goal just creeping over the line. 

As the second half began to progress, the football being played was getting more and more intense from both sides. Notts County played second fiddle to Arsenal but, in the closing moments of the game, Notts County managed to create a chance which forced Emma Byrne into a great save to deny Ellen White. Arsenal held on and got all three points, which sent them into second behind Sunderland Ladies.

A match against London Bees, struggling at the lower ends of the second division, in their second Continental Cup game of the season before they face Manchester City Women in the league. A double header against Chelsea follows in what could be the most crucial week in Arsenal's season. County look to return to winning ways against Bristol Academy Women next week.