Women's Super League wrap: Arsenal thrash Crystal Palace, Chelsea bounce back

Arsenal celebrated Renee Slegers' permanent appointment as head coach by recording a comprehensive 5-0 victory, at home to Crystal Palace in the Women's Super League.

Captain Leah Williamson grabbed her first Gunners goal since March 2023 with a sixth-minute opener that was assisted via Republic of Ireland captain Katie McCabe's corner kick, but it failed to open the floodgates.

That was the case after Alessia Russo doubled the hosts' advantage at Meadow Park after 63 minutes, with Beth Mead on target before Mariona Caldentey registered a late brace to secure an emphatic victory.

Chelsea returned to winning ways with a resounding 5-0 thrashing of West Ham.

Sonia Bompastor had boasted a perfect record in the division after nine fixtures until the Blues dropped points in a surprise 1-1 draw at Leicester on 14 December.

A winter break followed but the visitors scored three times in the first half at Chigwell Construction Stadium, in their first league match for more than a month, to keep hold of their healthy lead at the summit.

Catarina Macario, Erin Cuthbert and Aggie Beever-Jones struck before half-time for Chelsea and Sandy Baltimore added a fourth after the break, with the scoring wrapped up when Amber Tysiak put through her own net late on.

A fourth-minute own goal by Janina Leitzig earned Tottenham a hard-fought 1-0 win over Leicester to move them up to sixth in the table.