Albion suffered a 5-0 defeat to Arsenal at the People’s Pension Stadium.

A brace from Vivianne Miedema plus goals from Danielle Van De Donk, Jennifer Beattie and substitute Lotte Wubben-Mooy saw the Gunners go back to the top of the WSL.

Hope Powell's side made a bright start and Denise O'Sullivan went close to giving them the lead in the second minute after she was allowed time and space to turn and shoot, but her effort went inches wide of the post.

Arsenal went close to taking the lead after Beth Mead found space down the right and she tried to pick out Catlin Ford, but Maya Le Tissier poked a foot out to send the ball behind for a corner.

The visitors took the lead from the resulting corner after the ball was cleared to Miedema outside the box and her fake shot fooled two before her powerful effort snuck past Walsh and into the bottom corner.

Arsenal went close to doubling their lead in the 14th minute when Van De Donk’s cutback found Mead and her effort was tipped onto the post by Walsh and it went out for a corner.

From the resulting corner the ball found its way to Miedema, but this time her effort went just wide.

Albion had a golden chance to pull one back in the 20th minute when Inessa Kaagman’s cross found Aileen Whelan, who forced Manuela Zinsberger into a good save at her near post.

O'Sullivan had another good chance when she pinched the ball high up the pitch and drove into the box, but her effort was saved by Zinsberger.

Miedema then had a chance to double her tally, after a ball in behind was poked into her path by Danique Kerkdijk, but her effort was well blocked by the onrushing Walsh.

Arsenal doubled their lead in the 36th minute after a good run down the right from Foord saw her drive towards the box, before cutting the ball back to Van De Donk and her effort went into the net despite Walsh getting a hand to it.

The Gunners extended their lead in the 48th minute after Beattie got on the end of Katie McCabe’s corner and despite an Albion player hooking the ball off the line referee Kirsty Dowle decided it had crossed the line.

Arsenal had the ball in the net again in the 72nd minute, when Mead’s free-kick was headed in at the back post, but Leah Williamson was penalised for pulling down Kerkdijk.

The Gunners made in four with eight minutes left after Miedema’s cross picked out substitute Wubben-Mooy at the back post, who poked the ball in from close range.

Lee Geum-min then went close, after the substitute found space to turn and shoot, but her effort from just outside the box was well saved by Zinsberger.

Arsenal made it five in stoppage time after McCabe lifted the ball into Miedema and she tucked the ball into the net.

Albion- Walsh, Le Tissier (Barton,87), Kerkdijk, Stott, Gibbons, Whelan, Bowman (Williams, 65), O'Sullivan (Simpkins, 86), Kaagman, Green (Lee,77), Jarrett (Connolly,46). Subs not used- Fiskerstrand, Heroum, Longhurst.

Arsenal- Zinsberger, Maier (Wubben-Mooy, 57), Williamson, Beattie (Schnaderback, 59), Mccabe, Gut, Walti, Van De Donk, Mead, Miedema, Foord (Mace, 77). Subs not used- Williams, Denton.