Champions League holders Arsenal claimed their first win of this season's league phase as second-half goals from Beth Mead and Alessia Russo decided a close contest against Benfica in Lisbon.

The Gunners made a stumbling start to their title defence last week as Lyon came from behind to take all three points at Meadow Park, but arrived at the Estadio da Luz looking to build momentum after beating Brighton in the WSL on Sunday.

Their return to the city where they claimed their second European crown in May proved intensely frustrating, with few positives to take before Mead notched the opener on 57 minutes in Portugal's capital.

Renee Slegers' side failed to register a shot on target in the first half and had Daphne van Domselaar to thank for remaining level at the break, the Netherlands goalkeeper meeting Diana Gomes' powerful header with a superb save.

The second half started in the same vein as the first, with Arsenal dominating possession while struggling to create, before a moment of fortune broke the hosts' resolve.

While Mead was unable to get on the end of Mariona Caldentey's square ball, her presence caused chaos in the home defence, with Portugal centre-back Gomes getting her feet mixed up and inadvertently nudging the ball towards her own goal before the England forward applied the final touch.

With Benfica still a threat up the other end Slegers brought on last year's final hero Stina Blackstenius and England winger Chloe Kelly, in a bid to find the security of a second goal.

But it was Russo who made the victory safe on 89 minutes, the England striker pounced to slam home a finish into the bottom corner after a free-kick had dropped into the box.

Arsenal sit ninth in the league-phase table after the victory, while Benfica join Paris St-Germain, Roma and St Polten in losing both of their opening fixtures.

It's been a tumultuous few weeks for the European champions, who have struggled to hit the heights that enabled them to beat favourites Barcelona 1-0 in last year's final across town at the Estadio Jose Alvalade.

After that unlikely triumph Slegers' side came into the 2025-26 season with heavy expectations upon them, not only to compete on the continent but to also put up a substantial challenge for the WSL title.

They are struggling on the mission to meet those goals, having significant difficulties creating clear chances and spurning those they do muster, evidenced by their 1.87 goals per game average across their first eight matches this season.

Gunners midfielder Caldentey said her team needed to be better in "almost everything" after the win over Benfica.

"We need to be more consistent defensively and we have so much quality up front that we should score more goals," she said on Disney+.

"It's not one or two players, it's all of us. We're aware of that and we promise we will try harder and we will be better.

"Football is emotion as well, and when things are not going our way it's hard to keep composure, but with our experience we just need to keep trying, keep training."

Arsenal sit five points behind reigning champions Chelsea in the WSL title race after just six games played and are three points off the pace at the top of the Champions League league phase.

Nevertheless, the Gunners have signed off this first block of the season with successive wins and will hope to use that as a platform after the international break.

Arsenal are back in action after the international break, when they travel to face Leicester City in the Women's Super League on Sunday, 2 November (12:00 GMT).

Benfica are next in action this Sunday when they head to Maritimo in the League Cup (11:00 BST).

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