Under the Emirates Stadium lights, Arsenal vs Brighton ended with a decisive 5-0 victory for the Gunners in the Women’s Super League. Arsenal, desperate to return to winning form, overwhelmed a disoriented Brighton side on Friday night.
First-half goals from Beth Mead, Caitlin Foord, and Frida Maanum left Arsenal in control by halftime. Lina Hurtig and Alessia Russo scored later to seal Arsenal’s emphatic victory.
Brighton held firm to their style but paid the price against Arsenal’s potent offense. The Gunners climbed to fourth in the WSL standings, leapfrogging Manchester United, who will play Aston Villa on Sunday.
Arsenal vs Brighton: How the Match Played Out
Arsenal began the match with early scoring opportunities. One of the best came from a smart Lia Walti pass to Katie McCabe, who nearly converted before Madison Haley’s sliding tackle cut off the chance.
The Gunners broke through in the 13th minute. Maanum delivered a precise pass to Mead on the right, who cut inside and struck the opener with her left foot.
Russo overpowered Brighton’s defense, maneuvering around defenders to deliver a pass to Mead. The flag raised for offside, however, denied Mead the chance to score.
Arsenal quickly struck again, with Emily Fox finding Kim Little in the box, who crossed to Foord. Foord easily tapped it in at the 21st minute, doubling Arsenal’s lead.
Brighton’s troubles continued. Maanum, from the corner of the box, scored an impressive goal over Brighton’s Sophie Baggaley, bringing Arsenal’s lead to 3-0 by the 25th minute.
Arsenal nearly added another as Foord, during a counterattack, launched a shot that hit the post, missing narrowly.
Brighton rallied briefly, with Kiko Seike shaking Leah Williamson and firing a shot that hit the crossbar. Brighton’s few flashes weren’t enough, and Arsenal punished their disorganized defense.
The Gunners further solidified their lead in the 75th minute. A McCabe corner found Hurtig, who headed in Arsenal’s fourth goal.
Brighton’s night worsened after Stina Blackstenius earned a penalty, fouled by Jorelyn Carabali. Russo coolly converted, capping off her strong night with a well-earned goal.
Arsenal Player Ratings (4-3-3)
GK: Manuela Zinsberger – 8/10 – Arsenal’s keeper had a quiet night, called upon only once to secure a clean sheet.
RB: Emily Fox – 8/10 – Fox impressed with solid defensive work and consistent support for Arsenal’s attack.
CB: Leah Williamson – 6/10 – Strong defensively, although her passing was occasionally off.
CB: Steph Catley – 7/10 – Delivered a dependable performance, switching effectively to left-back after Fox’s substitution.
LB: Katie McCabe – 8/10 – McCabe contributed both in defense and attack, combining well with Foord to pressure Brighton’s right side.
CM: Lia Walti – 7/10 – Provided stability in midfield against Brighton’s disjointed attempts to break through.
CM: Kim Little – 7/10 – Showed creativity, setting up Foord’s goal and maintaining composure until her substitution.
CM: Frida Maanum – 9/10 – Delivered an outstanding performance, assisting Mead’s opener and scoring Arsenal’s third with a remarkable shot.
RW: Beth Mead – 8/10 – Back to her best, Mead utilized space effectively, scoring Arsenal’s first goal.
ST: Alessia Russo – 8/10 – Russo caused trouble for Brighton’s defense and scored from a penalty in the game’s final moments.
LW: Caitlin Foord – 8/10 – Foord’s impressive form continued, contributing a goal and driving Arsenal’s attack.
Arsenal Substitutes
Laia Codina (55′ for Fox) – 7/10 – Defensively sound, helping to keep Arsenal’s clean sheet intact.
Stina Blackstenius (55′ for Maanum) – 6/10 – Won the penalty but didn’t contribute significantly beyond that.
Kyra Cooney-Cross (55′ for Little) – 6/10 – Provided stability in midfield, assisting defensively when needed.
Lina Hurtig (71′ for Foord) – 8/10 – Scored Arsenal’s fourth goal immediately after entering.
Rosa Kafaji (79′ for Mead) – N/A
Unused Subs: Lotte Wubben-Moy, Kathrine Kuhl, Katie Reid, Daphne van Domselaar.
Manager: Renee Slegers – 8/10
Renee Slegers executed her game plan well, ensuring Arsenal dominated the Arsenal vs Brighton clash. Her tactical setup countered Brighton’s possession-based play, and her effective substitutions maintained Arsenal’s lead.
