Chelsea's Women's Super League title hopes are in tatters after Beth Mead led Arsenal to a thoroughly deserved win at Stamford Bridge.

The Gunners took the lead in the 55th minute when Mead was played in by Alessia Russo and finished emphatically into the far corner.

Mead turned provider six minutes later, finding Mariona Caldentey in acres of space just inside the penalty area who confidently shifted the ball past the onrushing defender before calmly stroking into the bottom corner.

Chelsea's best chances came when chasing the game but Erin Cuthbert and Sjoeke Nusken both failed to convert glaring headed opportunities as the hosts fell to a damaging defeat.

Sonia Bompastor's side remain six points behind leaders Manchester City, having played a game more, while Arsenal stay third but are now just a point behind the Blues.

Arsenal started quickly as they looked to put Wednesday's disappointing League Cup semi-final loss to Manchester United behind them and could have gone in front inside two minutes.

Captain Katie McCabe shot straight at Chelsea keeper Hannah Hampton before Alessia Russo's follow-up was cleared off the line.

Despite keeping Chelsea penned inside their own half, Arsenal struggled to create any further chances of note before Stina Blackstenius headed just wide on the stroke of half-time.

In between, Chelsea did come through Wieke Kaptein and Naomi Girma threatening from set-pieces.

But Arsenal were the quickest out of the blocks again in the second half, and, with Chelsea calling for a foul on Sam Kerr just inside her own half, they pressed forward and Russo fed Mead to thump in the opener.

Alyssa Thompson almost provided the immediate response for Chelsea but her shot flew just wide and Caldentey doubled Arsenal's lead soon after.

While Chelsea will rue the missed opportunities that could have brought away a nervy finish, the visitors were just as likely to add a third with Blackstenius forcing Hampton into a couple of smart saves.

Renee Slegers' side can celebrate a first win over their London rivals since December 2023, a victory that gives City the chance to go nine points clear at the top with a win at London City Lionesses on Sunday (11:55 GMT).

For the past six years, Chelsea have dominated the WSL.

They won five league titles in a row under Emma Hayes, made it six last season under Bompastor and few would have looked past them making it seven this year.

There have been wobbles before, occasions when it looked like they may just surrender their crown before coming storming back to take the trophy.

This time, though, they have surely given themselves too much to do.

A disjointed display in such a big game is symptomatic of a season in which a side that was once inevitable, have suddenly looked a little vulnerable.

The quality is still there but the air of invincibility around them has evaporated.

Arsenal pressed them well and Chelsea struggled to play out from the back, while in the first half their threat going forward was limited to the pace of Thompson on the break and set pieces.

Had they taken their chances, it might have been enough, but instead it stayed level and twice in the space of six minutes a defence that had conceded just six league goals before this game was breached far too easily.

They may have had a case for the foul on Kerr in the lead up to the first but still failed to react once it wasn't given, then proceeded to give Caldentey the freedom of the penalty area for the second.

With that, what was supposed to be the start of their late surge towards seven in a row was over before it began.

And Manchester City have a chance to finish them off once and for all next Sunday.

When Arsenal last won at Chelsea in the league (5-0 in September 2018), they were on their way to their 15th title.

Back then, few might have predicted 2018-19 would be the final season of the Gunners' success, as London rivals Chelsea overhauled them as the dominant force, winning six straight titles.

Five draws this season is already more than Arsenal have ever had in a Women's Super League campaign and a major reason why they are so far off the title pace.

Promising performances aside, Slegers recognised "the goals are missing" in a 0-0 draw against 10-player Manchester United earlier this month.

The squad was stretched too, with Slegers only naming seven substitutes and lacking options to change their attack.

However, 10 minutes after the break, Mead finally provided the clinical edge they had been missing, firing in her first goal of the season.

Shortly after, she turned provider to tee up Caldentey's decisive second.

While the title may be a bridge too far for the Gunners this season, landing a heavy blow on the side that have ruled the WSL for years is a happy consolation.

There remains plenty to play for elsewhere, with the Champions League knockout stages next month and a potential rematch against Chelsea in the quarter-finals.

Before that, the Gunners face Moroccan side FAR Rabat in the semi-finals of Fifa's inaugural Champions Cup on Wednesday.

Win and the chance to claim a record prize pot of £1.7m will be on the line against either Corinthians or Gotham FC in next Sunday's final.

Chelsea have eight days to recover before a must-win game at WSL leaders Manchester City on Sunday, 1 February (14:30 GMT).

Meanwhile, next up for Arsenal is Morocco's FAR Rabat in the Champions Cup semi-finals on Wednesday, 28 January (18:00 GMT) at Brentford's Gtech Community Stadium.