Jordan Nobbs stressed Arsenal’s title hopes are still alive after they beat Sunderland 3-1 to move within two points of FA WSL 1 leaders Chelsea.
If the Blues win either of their final two games, then the Gunners’ dreams are over having played one game more.
Sunderland 1-3 Arsenal
FA WSL 1
Hetton Centre
Saturday 26 September 2015
But Nobbs stated her team are taking hope from Liverpool retaining last year’s WSL 1 on goal difference.
The midfielder said: "Of course we can still win this title. You look at what happened last season where Liverpool were third and ended up winning it, so nothing's impossible.
“We're just going to do whatever we can to get as many points and as many goals as we can – never say die until the final whistle goes.”
Arsenal took the lead against Sunderland after a quarter of an hour following a break by Nobbs. Hilde Gunn Olsen smothered Alex Scott’s low effort, but the ball spilled loose and Chioma Ubogagu was on hand to poke the ball home.
However, the visitors’ lead lasted just five minutes as Abby Holmes played an inch-perfect ball through for FA WSL 1 top scorer Beth Mead, who rounded the goalkeeper and applied a calm finish.
The Gunners restored their lead soon after the restart though, as Ubogagu deftly stroked the ball into the corner of the net after connecting with a neat pass from Scott.
And Arsenal killed the game with 15 minutes to go as a mix-up in the Sunderland defence allowed Natalia to lob the ball over Olsen’s head into the gaping net.
Nobbs was full of praise for two-goal hero Ubogagu after the game.
She said: "There is not much Chi hits that doesn't go in. I don't know what she's been eating but she's been doing really well for us and her scoring ratio has been really on point.
“It's crucial for her and her confidence to get back in the line-up and scoring goals.”
As for Sunderland, their own slim hopes of the title were dashed as their winless streak extended to seven games in all competitions.
Mead said: "We've got to think about the bigger picture. The girls have been great this season, and just thinking about title contention is massive because we only wanted to stay in the league at the start of this season. The girls just need to take it all as a positive.
"Arsenal, Man City and Chelsea are showing why they are at the top because they've been consistent all season, whereas we were more towards the start of the season.
“Our downfall has been the second half of the season, but we'll learn from this and we'll just go out again to enjoy – and prove ourselves – in the last game before moving on.
"Our aim is the title next year. We know we can compete at the top, play the best and beat the best. We need to set our sights high and keep pushing on.”
Sunderland (4-2-3-1): Hilde Gunn Olsen; Abby Holmes, Victoria Greenwell, Stephanie Bannon (captain), Victoria Williams, Rachel Furness, Kelly McDougall; Brooke Chaplen, Keira Ramshaw, Abbey Joice; Beth Mead.
Substitutes: Emma Kelly for Chaplen 70, Stephanie Roche for Ramshaw 83, Charlotte Potts for Holmes 83
Subs not used: Gemma Wilson.
Goals: Mead 21
Bookings: Greenwell
Arsenal (4-3-3): Sari van Veenendal; Alex Scott, Casey Stoney, Vicky Losada, Natalia Pablos Sanchon; Jordan Nobbs, Chioma Ubogagu, Leah Williamson; Danielle Carter, Jemma Rose, Dominique Janssen.
Substitutes: Rachel Yankey for Ubogagu 63, Marta Corredara for Carter 77, Jade Bailey for Losada 86.
Subs not used: Emma Byrne, Vyan Simpson, Carla Humphrey, Lotte Wubben-Moy.
Goals: Ubogagu 16, 54, Natalia 80
Bookings: Casey Stoney 87
Attendance: 1,166
Referee: Martin Coy
