Mariona Caldentey is congratulated by her Arsenal teammates after scoring from the spot.Photograph: John Walton/PA
A battling defeat of West Ham ensured Arsenal earned back-to-back wins in the Champions League and WSL following the resignation of Jonas Eidevall.
It took 71 minutes before Arsenal made the breakthrough, Mariona Caldentey scoring from the spot before Rosa Kafaji's smart first-time finish killed off the home team.
Related: Man City 2-1 Aston Villa, Liverpool 1-1 Palace, West Ham 0-2 Arsenal: WSL clockwatch - live reaction
It was unlikely that we would see a dramatic change in Arsenal's fortunes following the exit of Eidevall. After three to four years at the club, the team and the way it plays are products of his managerial style and coaching philosophies.
His resignation does not mean that the problems that have plagued Arsenal in recent weeks, and arguably longer than that, have gone away. There can be upturns following any managerial change, but they are often short lived, until the more patient work of isolating the problem areas and working on them is done.
The reality is that Arsenal's interim manager, Renee Slegers, has had very little time to make substantial changes, nor will she necessarily be inclined to be too bold in her adaptations, as interim.
Manchester City moved back to the top of the WSL with a 2-1 defeat of Aston Villa. It wasn't plain sailing for Gareth Taylor's side, with City having to come from behind for the third game in a row (following Wednesday's 3-2 win over St Polten in the Champions League and a 2-1 win over Liverpool in the WSL) to secure victory.
Gabi Nunes had given the Villans an unlikely lead in the 20th minute, converting one of their two shots on target across the 90, but second-half goals from Lauren Hemp and Jill Roord (pictured) secured all three points.
Leicester moved up to seventh with a 1-0 win over Everton giving them a first win of the season, Yuka Momiki's first-half goal the difference.
Cornelia Kapocs salvaged a point for Liverpool against Crystal Palace after Katie Stengel had given the Eagles the lead against her former side. Promoted Palace sit ninth in the WSL table, above winless Aston Villa, Everton and West Ham. Suzanne Wrack
The 4-1 defeat of Valerenga in the Champions League on Wednesday night had certainly gone some way to exorcising their biggest demon, of struggling to break down low blocks, but the Norwegian champions were always going to be a far kinder test than what they would face in the WSL.
A trip to West Ham would be the real test of whether the Gunners would benefit from an uplift following Eidevall's exit. Last season, a 2-1 loss to the Hammers was added to defeats to Tottenham and Liverpool and proved costly. Teams outside the top three had worked Arsenal out; the blueprint was to allow the Gunners to dominate and play with a narrow low block, to let the lion loose but remove the teeth.
This was the formula West Ham would adopt for the visit of the managerless side on Sundayyesterday, the home team happy to concede possession and threaten on the break.
There were a few changes for the London derby, Leah Williamson dropped to the bench for Arsenal and Lotte Wubben-Moy continued to be unavailable with the club following concussion protocol, meaning Steph Catley partnered Laia Codina at the back. Beth Mead was also on the bench. Meanwhile, Rehanne Skinner made two changes to the team which earned a 1-1 draw with Everton last week, Shannon Cooke and Seraina Piubel replacing Emma Harries and Camila Saez.
The Hammers were effective at limiting the threat of Arsenal. It took 20 minutes until Arsenal went close to a shot on target, with Alessia Russo firing wide of the far post from a tight angle. Two minutes later and they would go close again, Emily Fox attempting to prod the ball through the legs of Kinga Szemik but the goalkeeper doing well to keep it out. Lia Walti had a go from the edge of the box shortly before the break, switching onto her left foot before firing goalwards but the effort was a little too close to Szemik.
It was a familiar story for the Gunners, but the introduction of Kyra Cooney-Cross, Mead, Kafaji and Stina Blackstenius just before the hour mark would prove decisive. Within 10 minutes Blackstenius was brought down by Amber Tysiak and the Gunners were awarded a penalty, which would be coolly converted by Caldentey.
There were still nervous moments for the visiting team though, Harries and Dagny Brynjarsdottir both going close. However, two of Arsenal's substitutes would combine for the goal that would quell the fight, the Hammers having to be more expansive in search of an equaliser. Blackstenius latched onto Caldentey's ball down the line and sent it towards Kafaji who turned it in with one touch.
The win means the Gunners remain five points behind league leaders Manchester City in fifth. They have a mountain to climb and the international break arrives to give some much needed time at the drawing board.