Pernille Harder's double helped Chelsea defeat Arsenal to move three points clear at the top of the Women's Super League.

The Blues had been frustrated in the first half before Harder found space to place a 20-yard shot inside the post.

Sam Kerr's rising shot clipped the bar before a slick move involving Jonna Andersson and Fran Kirby teed up Harder to smash in a second.

Kirby burst clear to slot a late third beyond Gunners keeper Lydia Williams.

Chelsea quickly erased the disappointment of Sunday's shock defeat by Brighton - which ended their WSL record 33-match unbeaten run - to go three points clear of second-placed Manchester United.

Emma Hayes made six changes and her side dominated first-half possession without creating clear chances, aside from Kirby's shot on the run, which Williams turned around the post superbly at full stretch.

The visitors had the best opportunity of the half when Vivianne Miedema muscled her way into the box, but keeper Ann-Katrin Berger's outstretched boot denied the WSL's 12-goal leading scorer.

However, Harder's quickfire double before the hour mark put the hosts in control as they secured an 11th win in their past 13 league outings without further scares.

A fourth WSL defeat of the season leaves fourth-placed Arsenal with just two victories in eight league matches - after winning their opening five - and seven points adrift of the three Women's Champions League places.

Chelsea manager Emma Hayes:

"Everybody knows what the standards are at Chelsea and it's not always easy to live with.

"The pressure is relentless, the expectation is relentless, but it's a place for the best to thrive, and only the best, with the highest standards, keep this dream machine flying.

"Those are my demands and I won't compromise on that. To see the response from the team shows where the team wants to go."

Arsenal boss Joe Montemurro:

"I think if we analyse this game too much it will drive us crazy because there wasn't a lot wrong with that other than they scored three goals and we scored none.

"It's very hard to keep analysing these games because we play a bit more pragmatic and then they hurt us another way - they are a very, very good team with some powerful players and it's the quality of them that has unlocked us today.

"Mathematically there is still a lot to play for us, but sometimes realistically you have to set yourself different targets. We have a Champions League spot to play for and two games in hand to help get us there."