Report: Brighton 0-1 Arsenal (inc. goal)

Arsenal: Misa; Fox, Williamson, Catley, Batlle; Stanway, Little; Smith, Mariona, Baum; Russo
Substitutes: Borbe, Wubben-Moy, Foord, Maanum, Kelly, Hinds, Blackstenius, Holmberg, Cooney-Cross

Arsenal have won their first match of the new WSL season, beating Brighton 1-0 through Lisa Baum’s first half goal.

Renee Slegers named summer signings Misa Rodriguez, Ona Batlle, Georgia Stanway, and Lisa Baum in her first competitive lineup of the season. Mariona played behind Alessia Russo, with Olivia Smith completing the front four.

Arsenal had controlled possession but Brighton had the first good chance of the match on 6 minutes. Seike kept herself onside by the halfway line and Nnadozie’s long ball sent her in behind Batlle. She drove into the box and shot low, with Misa getting a hand and Arsenal were able to clear.

Arsenal took the lead on 10 minutes. Williamson and Stanway won a loose ball in midfield and Baum picked up the ball in the middle. She drove into the box, going to the outside and then struck a powerful shot into the roof of the net. 0-1.

Russo should’ve made it 2-0 on 13 minutes. She looked to play Smith in behind after a neat passing move. The pass was overhit, but Smith knocked Olislagers off the ball by the goal line and cut the ball back for Russo, who skied her shot.

Seike was getting some joy behind Batlle and won a corner on 23 minutes that Russo cleared.

Mariona and Stanway combined neatly on 30 minutes and Stanway slipped Russo in. Nnadozie sprung off her line and saved Russo’s shot on the edge of the box.

Space opened up for Mariona in the middle, and she drove through it before shooting from the edge of the box, but her shot was straight at Nnadozie.

Olislagers kept the ball in, Brighton went long and Vanegas beat Fox in the air, with her header finding Kirby at the near post who shot well over the crossbar.

Misa was called into action in the first minute of the second half as Olislagers’ well struck cross was parried away.

Williamson was booked on 50 minutes as she was judged to have brought Haley down as Brighton played a long ball, though Haley essentially ran into her.

Russo played into Baum, who got to the byline and cut back. The cut back deflected off Rule and was cleared off the line.

Baum won a corner. The initial delivery was cleared but came to Little, who caught her shot well but hit it too centrally and Nnadozie saved.

On 58 minutes, Arsenal broke quickly through midfield before Little played to Baum on the left. She drove on and into the middle with the Brighton defence backing off. Baum, though, shot with her weaker foot and the weaker effort was low and straight at Nnadozie.

Arsenal made a double change on 63 minutes. Chloe Kelly and Caitlin Foord replaced Smith and Baum.

Seike, again finding joy on the right, took Batlle on and shot, with a deflection butting the shot behind for a corner. From the corner, Misa punched well.

Foord did well to beat Rule on the right and drive into the box, but having done so she shot over the bar.

Blackstenius replaced Mariona on 71 minutes, with Russo moving to the #10 position.

Seike went against Batlle again, forcing Misa to parry a near post shot behind for a corner. From the corner, the ball was cleared to Lia Wälti, who dragged her shot well wide.

Brighton created danger down their right again, with Joramo dragging her shot wide.

Down the other end, Blackstenius held the ball up and combined with Russo, who played in her in. Her shot was goal bound but Nnadozie parried it behind for a corner. From the corner, Brighton cleared and Little was booked for stopping the Brighton break.

Arsenal made their final two changes on 88 minutes. Frida Maanum replaced Alessia Russo and Smila Holmberg replaced Ona Batlle, with Fox going to left back.

Foord, getting onto Catley’s long ball, did well to beat Rule again but her shot went off a Brighton defender.

6 minutes were added on to the end of the second half.

Arsenal did well to kill off most of injury time but when Maanum was carelessly caught offside it gave Brighton a final chance to put the ball into the box but Holmberg saw it out to end the game.

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