Beth Mead struck twice to inspire Arsenal to a 4-0 victory over Women’s Super League’s basement club Crystal Palace at VBS Community Stadium.

The England forward opened the scoring in the 14th minute with her 50th WSL goal for Arsenal and fellow Lioness Alessia Russo doubled the Gunners’ lead in the 26th minute.

Good work by Manchester City loanee Chloe Kelly – who also assisted the opener – led to Arsenal’s third, forcing an own goal to Allyson Swaby, before Mead bagged her second in stoppage time.

The result moves Arsenal up to second in the WSL, five points shy of league leaders Chelsea, who have a game in hand.

Palace remain rooted to the bottom of the table in their first top-flight campaign, their relegation battle made more difficult after 11th-placed Aston Villa secured a last-gasp 2-1 win over Liverpool.

Russo got the visitors off to a sprightly start, testing Palace goalkeeper Shae Yanez with a shot.

Mead then got herself on the scoresheet, volleying home a cross from Kelly, who picked up her third assist in two games after twice teeing up her team-mates to help Arsenal book their place in the Champions League semi-finals on Wednesday evening.

The hosts continued to stand strong against waves of Arsenal attacks, but it felt like another Gunners goal would soon be coming.

Russo doubled Arsenal’s lead after some loose defending allowed Mariona Caldentey to pounce forward and take a touch then find the England forward, whose left-footed strike found the bottom corner.

Kelly tried to add one of her own, sending an effort wide of the right post, and Arsenal maintained their momentum through to half-time.

Yanez came out to punch an Arsenal corner soon after the restart then denied Caldentey on the hour, and there was another sharp effort from Russo 10 minutes later.

Arsenal went 3-0 up thanks to Kelly, who got in behind the Palace defence and stabbed in the direction of Yanez as her effort was turned in by the unfortunate Swaby.

It was 4-0 in added time after Mead launched a cross-shot from distance past the leaping Yanez and into the top-left corner.