In an entertaining game the Blues had to settle for a goalless draw in tonight’s top-of-the-table clash against the Gunners.

Hayes made just one change to the side that beat Manchester City last weekend, with Fran Kirby returning to the starting 11 in place of Jessie Fleming.

Eidevall, meanwhile, made four changes to his side following their 1-1 draw against Manchester United last week, with Rafaelle Souza, Leah Williamson, Caitlin Foord and Stina Blackstenius coming into their starting 11.

The Blues started the game on the front-foot, winning a corner in the first minute when a Guro Reiten cross was deflected out. Kim Little headed the Norwegian’s resulting corner clear.

We had a glorious chance two minutes later, Harder powered down the left and cut the ball back for Kirby whose effort was high of Manuela Zinsberger’s goal.

The Gunners quickly grew into the game, winning a couple of early free-kicks but the Chelsea defence stood strong to withstand the pressure.

Vivianne Miedema rattled the post on the 20th minute when the ball rebounded to her in the box, thankfully for the Blues her powerful shot was eventually hacked clear after hitting the woodwork.

The Gunners sent in a number of crosses deep into the Blues’ box throughout the first period, however Ann-Katrin Berger rose high each time to safely collect.

The first half was a very open affair with both teams searching hard to find an opener. Shortly before the interval the Blues powered forward through Kirby who then squared the ball to Cuthbert at the edge of the box whose effort was blocked.

Five minutes before the end of the half the Blues almost opened the scoring in identical fashion to our goal against Manchester City, Jess Carter looped in a ball and Reiten made a connection with it however her headed effort was just over the bar.

Moments later Arsenal had a good chance of their own, Blackstenius found herself free in the middle of the box but her header was well over Berger’s goal.

Our best chance of the half came seconds before half-time, Reiten sent in the perfect cross, Harder’s header was blocked and Kerr’s resulting strike was blocked in the six-yard box to deny us a goal.

The Blues started the second half just as we did the first, on the front foot. Kirby and Cuthbert combined well, the latter rocketed a strike at goal but it was deflected for an early second half corner.

We almost scored in spectacular fashion from the resulting corner, the ball was cleared only as far as Jonna Andersson whose effort on the volley deflected just wide of Zinsberger’s goal.

We had two big chances to go ahead just 10 minutes into the second half. Harder drilled in a cross, Kerr miss-kicked the ball and Kirby’s following effort was brilliantly blocked from close range.

We dominated second half proceedings, creating a number of goalscoring opportunities.

Arsenal’s first real chance of the second half came in the 59th minute when Lia Walti’s strike from the edge of the box flew over the bar.

The game really got going with half an hour left, Kerr drilled the ball across the face of goal and the Blues had two shots in quick succession blocked on the line.

Just a couple of minutes later we had another superb chance to go ahead, Reiten found herself free in the box but her strike was straight at Zinsberger.

Carter made an outstanding clearance just a few minutes later as the second half providing an entertaining watch for supporters. Arsenal whipped in a dangerous cross towards the back post aimed at Foord, but Carter leaped high to deny the Australian a chance at goal.

It was valiant defending in the final moments of the game for the Blues as an Arsenal corner caused a goal-mouth scramble which was eventually hacked clear for another corner, which saw Millie Bright head clear off the line.

The Blues got the ball in the back of the net deep into stoppage time through Jessie Fleming however Kerr was adjudged as offside in the build-up.

The result means the Blues remain two points behind Arsenal, however we have a game in hand over the Gunners.

It’s international break now and the Blues’ aren’t back in action until Saturday 26 February when we host Leicester City at Kingsmeadow in the fifth round of the Vitality Women’s FA Cup.

Chelsea 4-1-4-1: Berger, Andersson, Nouwen, Bright, Carter, Ingle, Reiten (Charles 81), Cuthbert (So-Yun 57), Harder, Kerr, Kirby (Fleming 81)Unused substitutes: Musovic, James, Spence, AbdullinaBookings: Reiten 51Arsenal 4-3-3: Zinsberger, Maritz (Wienroither 71), Williamson, Souza (Maanum 63), Catley, Walti, Little, Miedema (Nobbs 89), Mead (Parris 71), Blackstenius, FoordUnused substitutes: Williams, Beattie, Boye, Iwabuchi, HeathBookings: Maritz 43, Walti 53Match referee: Rebecca WelchAttendance: 3,330