The late introduction of Beth Mead – pictured with Leah Williamson – lifted the Emirates crowd during Sunday’s dramatic win against Aston Villa [Alexander Canillas/ SPP]

AN Emirates crowd almost 36,000-strong clapped and whooped in unison as, with just minutes left on the clock, Beth Mead entered the pitch on Sunday against Aston Villa.

The Arsenal and England forward brought to an end a devastating 11-month layoff following a serious knee injury the only way she knew how: by helping the Gunners grind out a much-needed victory in the Women’s Super League.

It was real Rocky of the Rovers stuff. When Mead stepped off the bench in the 88th minute Arsenal found themselves 1-0 down and heading for the harsh reality of having taken just one point from their opening three league games.

But that wasn’t a scenario fitting of such a special occasion.

The supporters, still buoyed by Mead’s arrival, erupted even further when Katie McCabe fired into the roof of the net in the 92nd minute to level the scores.

And then, in the fifth minute of stoppage time, came the moment that has ignited Arsenal’s season. Mead slid in to win the ball inside the Villa penalty area and gave it to Lionesses teammate Alessia Russo, who picked out the bottom corner to seal a 2-1 victory and complete the turnaround.

Katie McCabe levelled the scores against Aston Villa at the Emirates Stadium before Beth Mead set up Alessia Russo for a 94th-minute winner in the WSL [Alexander Canillas/ SPP]

Describing the “special moment” that Mead’s return lifted the home crowd, Gunners boss Jonas Eidevall said: “It makes me happy because she deserves that reception. She’s worked so hard. She’s had a really difficult year, both being injured and her mum passed away.

“We know that it’s been incredibly tough for her and it’s so nice to see her being back out on the pitch, seeing her being able to perform straight away. You never know that. You have to hope, otherwise I would never have put her on, but you don’t know it until you’ve seen it – and that was very nice, so a special moment.”

Arsenal will be hoping to follow their first league win of the campaign with another positive result this Sunday when they take on a struggling Bristol City side in a 6.45pm kick-off at Ashton Gate.

Mead could well find herself back on the bench with Eidevall making it clear that the club aren’t about to rush her recovery following the ruptured anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) that she suffered last November.

He added: “It’s not like she’s coming on from here doing 15 minutes and now she’s a 90-minute player. It doesn’t work like that, but we work closely with the medical team, like we have been doing all the way until she was able to be selected for the squad.

“We’ll continue to take good decisions, which is not too defensive, to not allowing her to play, but certainly also not too offensive or optimistic where we are taking risks that we’re not willing to take. It’s really important that we manage this return in a good way, and that has not ended yet just because she did 15 minutes on the pitch today.”

Vilahamn loves the Spurs way

New Tottenham boss Robert Vilahamn “just loves” watching his squad “play in the Spurs way”.

The north Londoners came from behind to beat Brighton & Hove Albion 3-1 at the Amex on Sunday thanks to goals from Martha Thomas, Grace Clinton and Ria Percival.

The result saw Tottenham go fourth in the WSL table – just a point behind joint-leaders Manchester City, Leicester City and Chelsea. But it’s not the final score or even the goals that have impressed Vilahamn. “This is the process – we don’t want to work so much about the result or the goals, we want to work on the performance, and how we’re going to play in the Spurs way,” said the Swede.

“We’re doing that and even if they score, it doesn’t affect us, we just keep playing.”

Clinton rightfully earned the headlines against the Seagulls after scoring a goal-of-the-season contender with a 30-yard screamer. But Vilahamn was keen to pass the praise around.

He added: “The new players really give us something new for this group. I’m a new coach here but even the existing players are making sure that they are developing. Look at Becky [Spencer] in goal, she’s brilliant with her feet and I don’t think any other goalkeeper in the league can have that footwork, and Luana [Buhler] taking steps as well. The new players, the old ones, the young ones… everybody is performing and doing it and I just love it.”

Tottenham tackle Aston Villa away this Saturday at the Bescot Stadium. Kick-off is at 12.30pm.

A win would send Spurs top, at least for a few hours, with Leicester City hosting Man City at 5.15pm, while Chelsea entertain Brighton at 2pm on Sunday.