Frida Maanum's angled long-range effort had given Arsenal an early lead and deceived Megan Walsh on the goalkeeper's West Ham debut, although the visitors almost equalised when Viviane Asseyi's header hit the post and were unlucky when the striker rattled the woodwork again with a shot from long distance after half-time.

Arsenal goalkeeper Manuela Zinsberger kept out Isibeal Atkinson's late drive with her legs, and Hammers captain Hawa Cissoko came close to a consolation goal but could not bundle the ball over the line during a scramble from a corner.

Mead was making her second successive start following the ruptured anterior cruciate ligament that caused her to miss the 2023 Women's World Cup, while Netherlands striker Vivianne Miedema made her second appearance since suffering the same injury as a late second-half substitute.

Miedema threatened to embellish the scoreline once she was introduced on a busy afternoon for Walsh, who turned Caitlin Foord's shot behind during the first half.

Arsenal now face a top-of-the-table meeting with Chelsea at Emirates Stadium in their first fixture after the international break on 10 December, when they will start the day three points behind the champions.

West Ham remain above bottom side Bristol City on goal difference.

Arsenal have found the net in each of their past seven WSL games, scoring a total of 20 goals

Mead joy lights up derby win

This was a day Mead must have dreamed about during her long recovery from the injury she sustained in November 2022.The player of the tournament in England's Euro 2022 triumph looked to the skies after scoring for the first time in 428 days, later dedicating her performance to her mother, who died in January.

As she did against Brighton, Mead featured for 64 minutes before making way as part of a comeback that significantly improves Arsenal's title hopes and the Lionesses' attacking options.

"The first goal was brilliant," said Arsenal manager Jonas Eidevall. "She showed good self-confidence, cutting in and using the left foot. She constantly puts herself in good scoring positions, so hopefully she has some really good days with England and can come back and contribute a lot for us in the final block before Christmas."

Chelsea's 5-2 win against Leicestermeans only a five-goal Arsenal victory at Emirates Stadium can depose them in two weeks' time, but the chance to draw level makes for a tantalising occasion for Eidevall, Mead and their record-breaking fans on an occasion that is set to surpass the WSL record attendance of 54,115 recorded by Arsenal on the opening day against Liverpool.

"It's a big test but that's what we want - to compete and challenge," said Eidevall. "Hopefully we'll get a sell-out and we're going to leave everything out there.

"We're under no illusions that they are probably going to be our toughest opponents so far this season. We have to be the best version of ourselves and we're going to do everything in our power to be that."

West Ham suffered their fifth consecutive defeat but responded admirably to falling behind and were inches away from levelling through Asseyi's expert header from Lisa Evans' cross.

"We're not happy with the result but with the average age of our squad and the experience we're building in this league... we created real problems for Arsenal," said West Ham manager Rehanne Skinner. "They're probably the best footballing side in this league. To minimise what they do - even if it's for 45 minutes - is a massive step.

"Our resources are very different. Clearly, that's something we want to be able to progress. It doesn't happen overnight. Arsenal have been going a long, long time to create that sort of squad."