Arsenal secured a commanding 3-0 victory against Brighton at Broadfield Stadium, delighting a record-breaking crowd of 4,921 in a sold-out venue. Arsenal, Stina Blackstenius initiated the scoring, elegantly placing her shot past goalkeeper Sophie Baggaley.
If at first you don't succeed, try again 🔥#BarclaysWSL @ArsenalWFC @SBlackstenius pic.twitter.com/4ak310p0Ea
— Barclays Women's Super League (@BarclaysWSL) November 19, 2023
Caitlin Foord extended Arsenal’s lead in the 80th minute, and Frida Maanum sealed the triumph in stoppage time, solidifying their second position in the Women’s Super League. Meanwhile, Brighton slid to eighth place.
Despite an initially uneventful opening, Arsenal capitalized on possession to take an early lead. Blackstenius exploited a defensive lapse, lofting the ball into the top left corner after an initial miss.
Brighton, aware of limited chances, almost equalized through Vicky Losada, but her header veered wide. Arsenal, despite their lead, missed opportunities, with a set-piece routine failing to produce a second goal.
The second half saw a spirited effort from Brighton, defended valiantly by Arsenal. Beth Mead, in her first WSL start in over a year, narrowly missed doubling Arsenal’s lead. Foord eventually capitalized on excessive space in the 80th minute with a powerful strike into the bottom left corner.
In stoppage time, Maanum’s well-executed team effort brought the score to 3-0. Despite Brighton’s attempts, Arsenal secured their sixth consecutive win and attained their first clean sheet of the WSL season.