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The Women's Super League and Championship returned with a bang after the international break

There were goals galore and a home defeat for reigning champions Chelsea as the FA Women’s Super League returned following the international break.

Arsenal produced the performance of the day, scoring five unanswered goals as they humbled Emma Hayes’ Blues to maintain their 100 per cent start to the season.

Manchester City were also handsome winners against West Ham as they triumphed 7-1, while Everton and Brighton & Hove Albion played out a thrilling 3-3 draw.

There were also wins for Birmingham City against Bristol City – their fourth from five games – and Liverpool, who edged out bottom side Yeovil Town.

Here are five things we learned from another enthralling weekend of Super League and Championship action.

Arsenal stun champions

Vivianne Miedema and Jordan Nobbs both found the net twice as Arsenal hit defending champions Chelsea for five at Kingsmeadow in ruthless attacking display.

Kim Little also found the net to consign Chelsea to their first Women’s Super League defeat since May 2017 – and a first at home since July 2016.

The result keeps Arsenal in fine fettle as they chase their first Super League title since 2012 and Nobbs reckoned the result was a big statement of intent from the visitors.

“I don’t want to get too ahead of ourselves,” she said. “I think we've been performing in every single game and it’s no coincidence that we played well after our last few performances.”

Kim Little’s last seven games for @ArsenalWFC and @ScottishFA…



Chelsea ⚽️

West Ham ⚽️

Yeovil ⚽️

Lewes ⚽️⚽️⚽️

Liverpool ⚽️

Albania ⚽️

Switzerland ⚽️#WeAreTheArsenal 🔴 pic.twitter.com/tyOaYDkdEi — Arsenal Women (@ArsenalWFC) October 14, 2018

Clinical City show ruthless edge

Manchester City were in red-hot form as Nikita Parris and Georgia Stanway both scored twice in a 7-1 success at the Academy Stadium.

Caroline Weir, Steph Houghton and Tessa Wullaert were also on target as City kept the heat on Arsenal at the top of the table, with Esmee de Graaf grabbing a consolation for West Ham.

Third-placed City went into the game without seven players because of injury of international calls but they showed their strength in depth to ease past the Hammers.

And with the title race already looking set to go down to the wire, Parris believes goal difference could prove vital.

“Clinical is what we need to be, especially in this league,” she said.

3 big points... get in🔵🧤 https://t.co/AauCGUJGkR — Ellie Roebuck (@EllieRoebuck_) October 14, 2018

Mannion saves the day

It looked like it wasn’t going to be Birmingham City’s day as they searched for the winner against Bristol City after Aoife Mannion missed a first-half penalty.

Former Blues keeper Sophie Baggaley continued her fine form to keep out the 23-year-old’s spot-kick after Birmingham’s Emma Follis had been clipped in the box.

But Mannion made amends with 15 minutes to go, collecting the ball outside the area and unleashing a wonderful dipping shot, that left Baggaley with no chance.

It proved enough to secure Birmingham their fourth win from five games and consigned Bristol to their first FA WSL defeat of the season at the Stoke Gifford Stadium.

The deadlock is broken! @aoifemannion_ fires home for @BCFCwomen after having her earlier penalty saved 🎯



Bristol City 0-1 Birmingham City (75') pic.twitter.com/nsQ3Uvb2vZ — The FA Women's Super League (@FAWSL) October 14, 2018

Battle at the bottom

Yeovil Town and Brighton & Hove Albion went into the weekend without a point to their name at the bottom of the table but they both showed are up for the fight on Sunday.

A brace from Ellie Brazil helped Brighton produce a sensational comeback against Everton as they earned their first point of the season with a dramatic 3-3 draw.

Meanwhile, Yeovil came within three minutes of securing their first point of the season against managerless Liverpool, who left it very late to snatch a 2-1 victory at Prenton Park.

And Yeovil goalscorer Annie Heatherson remained upbeat following the game, saying: “we’re not in this league to just survive – we want to get points and believe we can.”

💬 "They proved to me that this team has got some character."#BHAFC 🔵⚪️



Read ➡️ https://t.co/ZD09z6UcuF pic.twitter.com/nmiX8W6vv3 — Brighton & Hove Albion ⚽️ (@OfficialBHAFC) October 15, 2018

United return to winning ways

After suffering a blip against Durham before the international break, Manchester United got their title challenge back on course with a comfortable 3-0 victory over Charlton Athletic.

Katie Zelem, Jess Sigworth and Lizzie Arnot were all on target for United, who remain top of the league by just one point over Tottenham Hotspur after their 3-1 win over Lewes.

Spurs still have a game in hand and look set to push United all the way, while Leicester are not far behind the top two after edging out Millwall Lionesses 2-1 thanks to a Rosie Axten brace.

It was also a day to remember for Crystal Palace as a first-half from Ashlee Hincks proved the difference against London Bees as they won their first game of the season.

Hincks missed a penalty to make the game safe and they had to survive late pressure from the North Londoners but the goal was enough for a 1-0 victory to move Palace up to seventh.

Elsewhere, Aston Villa and Durham played out a 0-0 draw as the hosts picked up their first point of the season after Gemma Davies’ side resisted a second-half onslaught from the Wildcats.

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