The reaction as Beth Mead named player of the match in Arsenal victory over Chelsea

Beth Mead was named player of the match as Arsenal defeated Chelsea 2-0 to claim bragging rights in the London derby.

She scored the opening goal on 55 minutes and set up team-mate Mariona Caldentey for the second in a hardworking performance.

Co-commentator Gilly Flaherty on the BBC broadcast of the match explained her selection, saying: “Beth Mead, she gets the goal, she gets the assist, she does so much off the ball as well.

“[It couldn’t have been] an easy game for her with the booking early on [in the first half].

“But when it mattered she rose to the challenge, she stepped up, she put a beautiful finish in and sets up Caldentey as well. Brilliant performance from her today.”

Ellen White, a pundit on the broadcast coverage, described it as a “beautiful finish”.

And Fara Williams added: “Beth Mead loves big games.”

Mead returned to the Gunners starting line-up following the Subway Women’s League Cup semi-final loss to Manchester United in midweek.

And at the final whistle, she was congratulated on her performance by the opposition’s captain and former England team-mate Millie Bright, who gave her a big hug.

Beth Mead: I love playing for this club

It follows some weeks of a minority of Arsenal fans criticising Mead’s contributions – and reports of her being linked with a move to London City Lionesses ahead of her contract expiring later in the year.

“She knows Arsenal inside-out – she performs season on season,” said Williams.

And for her part, Mead reflected in a post-match interview: “I love playing for this club, love playing for the badge, and always to get a goal, it feels like the first time for me.”

The result means that Arsenal close the gap on Women’s Super League leaders Manchester City to seven points – and are now within a single point of second-placed Chelsea.

It was Chelsea’s second league loss of the season – and Arsenal’s first away win against their London rivals since 2018.