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Article continues belowArticle continues belowArticle continues below<ul><li>England international recovered from ACL injury</li><li>Working her way towards full match sharpness</li><li>Gunners eased to victory to keep title bid on track</li></ul><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script>

Beth Mead is back! Brace for Lionesses star ends 428-day wait for WSL goal in comfortable win for Arsenal over West Ham

The England international, who formed part of the Lionesses’ triumphant squad at Euro 2022, spent close to a year on the sidelines after <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/news/lionesses-star-beth-mead-first-arsenal-start-acl-injury/blt123d38f4704276ec " target="_blank">suffering an ACL injury that dashed her 2023 World Cup dream</a>. She is now very much back, having <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/beth-mead-back-arsenal-star-in-lionesses-squad-first-time-in-year-ellie-roebuck-out-man-city-no-1-khiara-keating/blt42d9170f3fe38c7c " target="_blank">earned an international recall</a> and getting on the scoresheet at club level.Arsenal broke the deadlock against West Ham inside two minutes when a cross-shot from Frida Maanum floated into the top corner. Mead then got in on the act in the 18th minute – with her first WSL goal since netting in a derby date with Spurs well over 12 months ago – when she cut inside onto her trusty left foot and fired into the back of the net. She grabbed her second of the game four minutes before the interval after good work from international team-mate Alessia Russo allowed her to bundle home from close range.West Ham hit the woodwork in both halves at Borehamwood, and came close to grabbing a consolation late on, but they were unable to find a way through against title-chasing Arsenal. The Gunners knew that they had already wrapped up the points by half-time, and they were never required to go through the gears in the second 45 as they eased over the line with plenty left in the tank.

TELL ME MORE

Beth Mead was never going to stay out of the headlines for long, with the talented forward too good to slip into the shadows. She may have been out of sight for a while, but was never out of mind. Her patience and persistence is now being rewarded, with full match sharpness returning with each passing outing. She took her two goals against the Hammers in style, with the first seeing her show quick feet before crashing in an unstoppable finish. Her second showed that she has lost none of her attacking instinct when drifting into the kind of space six yards out that allowed her to turn in the simplest of chances. Mead, who was denied the opportunity to grab a hat-trick, received a standing ovation when being replaced in the 64th minute.

THE MVP

Not really a loser, as Arsenal were very comfortable and will be pleased with performances put in all over the pitch, but Alessia Russo will be disappointed not to have got on the scoresheet. She is leading the line with Vivianne Miedema working her way towards full fitness following knee ligament damage, and certainly <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/alessia-russo-jonas-eidevall-womens-super-league/bltced55a3acc2e30ac" target="_blank">knows her way to the back of the net</a>. She teed up Mead’s second of the game with a driving run and poked cross, but spurned the best opportunity that came her way just past the half-hour mark when seeing the ball get caught under her feet when sent scampering into the box – with a last-ditch challenge preventing her from getting a shot away.

THE BIG LOSER

Arsenal remain three points adrift of leaders Chelsea in the Women’s Super League, but will get the chance to close that gap when playing host to the Blues on December 10. West Ham continue to languish towards the foot of the division and will be hoping to kick-start their campaign when returning to home soil against Everton – the side sat directly above them in the table.

WHAT COMES NEXT?

MATCH RATING (OUT OF FIVE): ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Beth Mead is back! Brace for Lionesses star ends 428-day wait for WSL goal in comfortable win for Arsenal over West Ham | Goal.com US

Beth Mead scored her first WSL goals in 428 days when bagging a brace for Arsenal in their comfortable 3-0 win over West Ham at Meadow Park.