Arsenal come from behind to set WSL wins record

Arsenal midfielder Jordan Nobbs said she was “delighted to take her chance” after a “tough few years” with her goal in their win over West Ham.

Nobbs scored within two minutes of coming off the bench to equalize for Arsenal before goals from Stina Blackstenius and Frida Maanum sealed victory.

England midfielder Nobbs has struggled with injuries in recent years which forced her to miss the 2019 World Cup and the Lionesses’ Euro 2022 triumph.

She has had to bide her time for minutes at Arsenal with competition for places in midfield but Nobbs now has two goals in four days after her strike against Zurich in the Champions League on Thursday.

“Every one of us on the bench has been working so hard in training,” Nobbs told Sky Sports.

“It’s a credit to the mentality. We’ve had so many games but we know those moments will come to get game time.

– I have had some difficult years [with injuries]. We have such a talented squad and the last few months I’ve just had to work really hard. That chance always comes and I’m glad I was able to take mine.”

It was a well-deserved win in the end for Arsenal and they stay level with leaders Manchester United, who recorded a 3-0 win against Everton earlier on Sunday.

However, West Ham put in a strong performance and should have been two goals ahead before Nobbs scored Arsenal’s first just before half-time.

Nobb’s equalizer canceled out West Ham captain Dagny Brynjarsdottir’s opener, who had earlier headed in from a corner but saw the goal wrongly ruled out after Kim Little appeared to slip.

Brynjarsdottir was frustrated by the referee’s decision to penalize her when Arsenal midfielder Little slipped clear without incursion into the box.

However, the West Ham midfielder responded minutes later when she pounced on a series of errors at the back of Arsenal – poking over the line from close range after Steph Catley’s poor back pass bounced off the post and into the path of Brynjarsdottir.

It ended Arsenal’s record run of 10 consecutive WSL games without conceding but Jonas Eidevall’s side showed their quality to recover and take three points.

“Happy with the three points and our performance but we were careless with mistakes,” manager Eidevall told Sky Sports.

“We won because we fought back and we had good substitutions. The three substitutions gave everyone quality.”

Nobbs came on in the 40th minute to replace Little, who was helped by paramedics after twisting his knee and then placed on a stretcher.

Blackstenius put Arsenal ahead in the second half by finishing off Catley’s stunning free-kick, before Maanum scored her third goal in as many WSL starts when she headed home Katie McCabe’s curling cross.

“We are lucky to have a player like Jordan [Nobbs] in the squad,” Eidevall added.

“Once again we see a player who has prepared so well. She came with quality and that’s the difference.”

Nobbs added: “I know I need to play to get into the England squad. Sarina Wiegman makes that very clear. I just have to take chances when I can. I know I have to play football.”

Arsenal’s 100 per cent record this season means they are level on points with Manchester United and Chelsea – where the Blues have played an extra game – although they are second on goal difference.

West Ham slipped to seventh place with three wins from their first six games under manager Paul Konchesky, who took over last summer.

Arsenal’s impressive run continues despite West Ham’s threat

Arsenal missed out on the WSL title by one point to Chelsea last season but have shown their credentials as contenders again this year.

After beat Zurich on Thursday in the Women’s Champions League, Eidevall made six changes to the starting eleven with Vivianne Miedema again on the bench.

He was forced into an early substitution with Little’s due to injury but Nobbs did not disappoint.

She also got on the scoresheet on Thursday, picking up a second consecutive player of the match award with her performance against West Ham.

Lina Hurtig also impressed when she came on and forced late saves from young West Ham goalkeeper Sophie Hillyerd to make her debut.

Hillyerd, meanwhile, was one of several impressive performers for West Ham as she kept out Caitlin Foord and Blackstenius, before Maanum hit the post in stoppage time.

Full-back Kirsty Smith did well going forward and Brynjarsdottir caused problems all game – her late strike stopped by Manuela Zinsberger almost bounced back to Viviane Asseyi before being beaten behind by the keeper in an impressive double save.

Konchesky has overseen steady progress this season and West Ham’s three defeats have all come against the league’s top three – Arsenal, United and Chelsea.

They showed plenty of threat at Meadow Park and in Brynjarsdottir, who has scored four goals in six WSL games, they have a player in superb form.

“We started very well again and were fantastic for 70 minutes, but the strength of depth in the squad maybe shows,” Konchesky said.

“We could have had another goal but it didn’t happen. Dagny wasn’t happy. Sometimes you get those decisions and sometimes you don’t. We didn’t get it today and it could have cost us in the end.”