Arsenal returned to winning ways in the Women’s Super League with a dominant 5-0 victory over high-flying Brighton at the Emirates Stadium.
Three goals in the first 12 minutes of the game put the Gunners in control, ensuring that Renee Slegers maintained her perfect record as interim manager.
Beth Mead, making her return to the starting lineup, wasted no time, scoring just 13 minutes in with a brilliant strike—cutting in from the right and curling the ball into the bottom corner.
Brighton were caught out again down their left flank shortly after, as Kim Little delivered a dangerous low cross into the six-yard box, where Caitlin Foord was perfectly positioned to finish from close range.
Three minutes later, Frida Maanum got a stunning third, whipping a delightful finish into the top-right corner from the edge of the box, and Foord should have got their fourth on the stroke of half-time but fired against the post while off-balance.
Substitute Lina Hurting then rose high in the 76th minute to flick on a corner which neither Sophie Baggaley nor Guro Bergsvand could keep out despite their best efforts.
Stina Blackstenius was dragged down in the penalty area in stoppage time, and Alessia Russo confidently stepped up to bury the resulting spot-kick to send Arsenal fourth in the table.
Data Debrief: Off the mark at home
Slegers looks to have settled into life as Arsenal’s interim boss seamlessly, and Arsenal avoided a slip-up against a tricky opponent to register their first home win of the season.
They have now won all 13 of their WSL meetings with Brighton by an aggregate score of 48-2, while it is the fifth clean sheet Arsenal have kept against them at home.
Mead also improved on her already impressive record against Brighton – against no side does she have more combined goals and assists than the Seagulls (13 – eight goals, five assists).
