FA Women's Super League: What we've learned from Round 5

It was a day to remember in the FA Women’s Super League as defending champions Chelsea were humbled on home turf by potential champions elect Arsenal in a shock 5-0 win.

Manchester City also found their tune with a high-scoring win over West Ham, while Birmingham City kept pace with Arsenal at the top.

Yeovil still prop up the foot of the table, but it was nearly all so different in a fascinating weekend of FA WSL action.

READ MORE: What we learned from Women’s Super League week 4

READ MORE: Top performers from WSL round 4

Arsenal’s year?

Arsenal haven’t won the FA Women’s Super League since 2012, but they certainly made their title credentials knows with a stunning 5-0 away victory over defending champions Chelsea – a side that hadn’t lost a game since May 2017.

The Gunners had been tipped as dark horses this campaign and Joe Montemurro’s team showed why as they took Chelsea apart on a blustery day at Kingsmeadow.

Kim Little put Arsenal ahead from the spot on 21 minutes and they never looked back as Vivianne Miedema scored twice to sink Emma Hayes’ side.

Jordan Nobbs slotted two more to inflict an embarrassing defeat over the champions and ensure that Chelsea suffered their first home defeat since May 2016.

Arsenal have won every game they’ve played this season and certainly look good value for money to scoop a third Super League title after just four games.

City reach seven heaven

Manchester City recorded their highest margin of victory of the FA WSL campaign so far with a stunning 7-1 victory over top flight newcomers West Ham United.

Nick Cushing’s side couldn’t have made a better start to the match as Caroline Weir’s stunning looping volley put the Blues ahead inside two minutes.

The rout continued when Nikita Parris’ quickfire double put City 3-0 up after just 17 minutes as West Ham struggled to contain City’s attacking talent.

Georgia Stanway scored either side of Steph Houghton marking her 100th WSL appearance in style with a powerful header, before West Ham’s Esmee De Graaf scored a late consolation goal.

Tessa Wullaert compounded a bad day at the office for the Hammers with a goal in added time after Becky Spencer fumbled the ball into the net.

The win will give a huge boost to Nick Cushing and his side as they attempt to chase down Arsenal at the top of the pile.

It’s just like watching Brazil…

Everton looked to be heading towards a first win of the season when they went 3-1 up against pointless Brighton and Hove Albion.

But Ellie Brazil turned the tie on its head with two stunning headers from set-pieces to claim Brighton’s first point of the season in dramatic style.

Before the match neither side had scored in 270 minutes of league action, but it appeared that they had saved their goals up for this clash as Danielle Buet put the visitors in front on three minutes.

Inessa Kaagman and Gabby George rallied for Everton, before Chloe Kelly put them 3-1 ahead.

But 19-year-old Brazil had the last laugh by tucking away two headers from close range to deny Everton the three points.

Yeovil denied first point of the season

Yeovil Town were minutes away from claiming their first point of the season, but Liverpool’s Jess Clarke struck three minutes from time to deny the Glovers.

Yeovil, who are without a win in two years remain bottom of the table, but it could have been a day to remember after Annie Heatherson’s first-half equaliser.

But Clarke slotted from close range with three minutes left on the clock to seal the win for Liverpool at Prenton Park.

Aoife Mannion shows her grit

A wonder goal from Aoife Mannion sealed a fourth league win of the season for Birmingham City, but she would have been talked about for different reasons had her dipping effort not gone in.

Mannion’s first-half penalty was expertly kept out by WSL player of the month Sophie Baggaley and it looked as though Bristol City would seal a third big draw of the season after keeping out Manchester City and Chelsea earlier this season.

But Mannion’s stunner 15 minutes from the end ensured Birmingham City bounced back from their 3-2 loss to Manchester City last time out.