Hemp scores twice as City come from behind twice to down Arsenal and stay top

Lauren Hemp scored twice and Bunny Shaw added a late clincher as Manchester City came from behind on two occasions to beat Arsenal 4-2 in the Women’s Super League on Sunday, keeping the champions top of the table with a perfect five wins from five matches heading into the international break.

Arsenal took the lead through Lisa Baum in the 43rd minute, only for Hemp to force the ball home from a tight angle in first-half stoppage time. Alessia Russo restored the Gunners’ advantage four minutes after the break, but City refused to fold. Kerstin Casparij equalised in the 63rd minute before Hemp put City in front for the first time nine minutes later, and Shaw sealed the three points in the 84th minute with her fifth goal of the season.

The result condemns Arsenal — who lost 1-0 at Chelsea last week — to a second straight defeat and leaves them in 10th place on five points from five games after a deeply disappointing start to the campaign.

Earlier on Sunday, Sonia Bompastor’s Chelsea moved into second place, two points behind City, with a 3-0 thumping of West Ham United. Melvine Malard opened the scoring before Keira Walsh and Maika Hamano added late goals to complete the comfortable victory.

London City Lionesses announced themselves as genuine title contenders with a 6-1 demolition of Tottenham Hotspur, who had conceded just twice in their opening four matches. Alexia Putellas scored twice in the first half as the visitors’ relentless pressing overwhelmed Spurs, and the win moved London City into third place on 12 points from their third successive victory.

Brighton & Hove Albion hammered newly promoted Charlton Athletic 5-1, with Kiko Seike scoring twice for the Seagulls. Charlton remain rooted to the bottom of the 14-team table without a point.

Everton continued their strong start to the season with a 2-1 win over Birmingham City that lifts them to fifth on nine points, two ahead of Liverpool, who fell to a 1-0 defeat against Manchester United on Saturday.