Goals from Katie McCabe and Alessia Russo completed a stunning stoppage-time comeback from Arsenal as they beat Aston Villa 2-1 in front of 35,829 at the Emirates.

Beth Mead, who came on in the 87th minute, made her first appearance for the Gunners in nearly a year since rupturing her anterior cruciate knee ligament last November.

And it was the England forward who set up Russo’s winner in 12 minutes of added time, just two minutes after McCabe cancelled out Maz Pacheco’s first-half opener.

It was a first Women’s Super League victory of the season for the Gunners, who avoided going five in a row without a league win for the first time.

Though McCabe saw a weak effort saved, the first real opportunity for either side came via Arsenal forward Caitlin Foord, whose deflected cross from the right was initially spilled by Villa keeper Daphne van Domselaar before rolling dangerously across the face of goal.

No Gunners were in position to pounce before Pacheco cleared, and though Arsenal had enjoyed the lion’s share of possession it was Pacheco again, this time at the other end of the pitch, who handed Villa the lead after 25 minutes when she directed a bullet header from Lucy Staniforth’s corner past Manuela Zinsberger.

Rachel Daly saw a nodded effort of her own saved, and while the hosts threatened late, largely through Russo alongside Frida Maanum’s effort that went wide in four minutes of added time, it remained a frustratingly empty-handed first half for the hosts.

A worrying start to the second half for Villa ended in relief when Rachel Corsie was deemed fit to continue after taking Russo’s sharp volley to the head, while the Gunners could not capitalise on some hesitant moments of defending from the visitors and were twice denied by Van Domselaar.

The Villa shot-stopper would have had no chance on Arsenal’s next attempt, this time from Foord at the edge of the area, but were spared at the last when the effort instead clipped in the post.

With just over 10 minutes left in normal time the Gunners found themselves firmly on the front foot, yet despite a chaotic scramble inside the area could emerge only with efforts for McCabe and Steph Catley shut down by a steady sea of blue.

Mead was treated to a rousing applause when she replaced Noelle Maritz after 87 minutes, and the game turned on its head when McCabe levelled with a rocket from a tight angle two minutes into stoppage time.

Substitute Stina Blackstenius caught the crossbar but Arsenal were not done, and it was Mead herself who orchestrated the late drama when she provided Russo with the pivotal pass to fire home the winner.