In front of a big crowd at the Emirates Stadium with a sold-out Chelsea section, a debated penalty award early in the second half led to Kim Little putting the home side ahead but with time running out, Sam Kerr headed in her 11th goal of the season to claim a point.

Although the result brings an end to the Blues run of nine consecutive wins in this competition, Emma Hayes side maintain our three-point lead in the table although we have played one game more than the Gunners. Man United's win later in the day moved them onto the same points and same number of games as Arsenal.

With much at stake this Sunday lunchtime, it was a relatively cagey first half. Arsenal, who were missing strikers Beth Mead and Vivianne Miedema due to long-term injuries, had all the shots on target in first 45 minutes but none that looked likely to score. Chelsea’s most promising moment was early on when Lauren James fired wide.

Zecira Musovic pulled off a very good save soon after the restart but was comprehensively beaten by the penalty. However we stayed in the game and although the Gunners will rue not seeing out a win on an afternoon when Chelsea did not create a great deal, when you have Kerr you always have a chance.

This, on Chelsea Women’s third visit to the Emirates, was our first point taken here.

The selection

Emma Hayes made just one change from the previous game back on 22 December. Jessie Fleming was preferred to Fran Kirby as the central attacking midfielder.

Steady early approach from both sides

The Blues’ last outing was three days before Christmas, the impressive Champions League win over PSG at Stamford Bridge. Since then there has been a warm weather training camp in Spain before a return to action in a bright but chilly London today.

The stakes ahead of this game were high, with Chelsea harbouring our three-point lead over Arsenal in the WSL table but knowing the Gunners have that game in hand.

Lauren James almost gave the Blues the ideal start when she robbed Arsenal defender Rafaelle Souza near halfway and advanced and shot, but her effort flew past the far post.

Erin Cuthbert tried to send Kerr through with a slightly over-hit long pass before it was the home team’s turn to counter-attack, but Lina Hurtig’s shot was far too tame to trouble Musovic, as was Caitlin Foord’s after she wrestled the ball past Niamh Charles.

Frida Maanum struck one more powerfully during what was becoming a good spell for Arsenal but it was straight at our goalie.

Chelsea steadied and Cuthbert had the misfortune of seeing one of her thunderbolts blocked inadvertently by Kerr. We had reached the midway point of the half goalless and with both sides maintaining their shape well.

A strike by Gunners midfielder Lia Walti did look to carry a threat but Kadeisha Buchanan was alert and dived to divert it wide. After a Millie Bright clearance had been charged down, Hurtig rippled the Chelsea side-netting.

The Blues pressed forward more in the closing stages of the first half and earned some corners, one sent wide by a downward Kerr header, but the general feeling at half-time was that there was more to come in this game yet.

Setback comes quickly

Musovic was called upon to make her first difficult save as Arsenal started the second half strongly. A cross came in from the left and Hurtig was there to head it down from close range. Our goalie made a reflex stop and then grabbed the ball at the second attempt. However it proved to be a momentary respite.

Chelsea were aggrieved that a penalty was awarded against Charles for a shove on Foord with almost all the contact taking place before they crossed the line into the area, but the spot-kick was awarded nonetheless.

Gunners captain Little sent Musovic the wrong way with her strike. There were 57 minutes played.

Fran Kirby and Eve Perisset were brought on as Hayes looked for her team to react.

Sophie Ingle flashed a shot off target but Musovic had been forced into further saves, including tipping a looping ball in from Foord onto her own crossbar.

Point saved

Late on however Eriksson had a header saved after a free-kick was nodded back her way and James saw a shot blocked. The Blues were striving our hardest to salvage something from this important game. Cuthbert had successive shots blocked during a scramble and then Perisset hit the side-netting.

But with the 90 minutes almost up, reward was on its way. Another substitute Jelena Cankovic sent in a sweet delivery, Kerr had timed her run perfectly, and her header was unstoppable!

What's next?

It's back home to Kingsmeadow next Sunday when we host Liverpool in another WSL match. Kick-off is 12.30pm. Click for tickets

Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Musovic; Charles (Perisset 62), Buchanan, Bright, Eriksson (c) (Rytting Kaneryd 86); Cuthbert, Ingle (Cankovic 81); James, Fleming (Kirby 62), Reiten; Kerr.

Unused subs: Berger, Carter, Svitkova, Mjelde, Abdullina.

Scorer: Kerr 89

Booked: James 39

Arsenal (4-2-3-1): Zinsberger, Wienroither, Williamson, Souza, Catley; Little (c), Walti; Hurtig (McCabe 81) , Maanum, Foord; Blackstenius.

Unused subs: D’Angelo, Wubben-Moy, Beattie, Maritz, Pelova, Kuhl, Iwabuchi, Queiroz.

Scorer: Little 57 pen

Booked: McCabe 88