Aston Villa pulled off a surprise 5-2 victory over Arsenal as the Gunners’ Women’s Super League title hopes were all-but ended at Villa Park.

Arsenal were left six points behind league leaders Chelsea, who have the chance to seal the title at Manchester United later on Wednesday night.

Arsenal exerted plenty of energy just three days ago in their amazing Champions League turnaround against Lyon to reach the final and Villa pounced all over them.

Former Arsenal player Jordan Nobbs rounded off a swift counter-attack before Kirsty Hanson’s stunner put the hosts two to the good at the break.

Renee Slegers’ half-time team talk went straight out of the window as Chasity Grant jumped on Katie McCabe’s mistake to make it three and Rachel Daly got in on the act to put Villa four up.

Two goals in three minutes from Stina Blackstenius and Alessia Russo cut the deficit to two but Grant’s second of the night sealed all three points for Villa and left Chelsea on the brink of the title.

The hosts were in a confident mood and took the lead with a counter attack which started from Sabrina D’Angelo’s wonderful double save down the other end.

From a corner, Beth Mead and Blackstenius both saw efforts saved at point blank range by the Villa stopper and the home side punished them seconds later as Ebony Salmon sprinted clear and passed it across to Nobbs who calmly slotted beyond Manuela Zinsberger.

Arsenal were unusually sloppy in possession and it cost them a second goal on the stroke of half-time.

Missy Bo Kearns rather easily dispossessed Chloe Kelly midway inside her own half and she picked out Hanson who was in acres of space to belt one from 25 yards past the despairing dive of Zinsberger.

Slegers rolled the dice at the break as Leah Williamson, Kim Little and Russo were introduced in a triple change but Villa made it three less than a minute into the second-half.

It was another lapse in concentration from Arsenal. McCabe was caught in possession this time on the last line of defence and Grant was able to poke it past the onrushing Zinsberger.

Arsenal pushed to find a way back into the game but an inspired D’Angelo was proving hard to beat as she denied Williamson’s volley before stopping Mariona Caldentey.

However, Villa continued with their attacking intent and put the visitors to the sword with a fourth when Daly leaped on Hanson’s through ball and fired home.

Arsenal got themselves on the board with 23 minutes to play when Blackstenius got on the end of a long ball and buried into the far corner before Katie Reid put it on a plate for Russo to head home the Gunners’ second.

But Arsenal’s hopes of a comeback were crushed when Grant lifted over Zinsberger to cap off a stunning performance.