Brighton & Hove Albion Women produced a stunning performance to defeat Arsenal Women 4-2 at Broadfield Stadium on Monday, May 5, 2025, marking their first-ever Women’s Super League victory over the Gunners. This result deals a significant blow to Arsenal’s hopes of securing second place and Champions League qualification.
Brighton opened the scoring in the 16th minute through Fran Kirby, who capitalized on a defensive lapse to slot the ball home. Arsenal responded in the 29th minute when Caitlin Foord finished a well-worked move to level the scores. However, Brighton regained the lead just before halftime, with Jelena Čanković finding the net in the 43rd minute. The Seagulls came out strong after the break, with Čanković scoring her second goal in the 52nd minute, followed by Kiko Seike adding a fourth just two minutes later. Arsenal managed a late consolation goal in stoppage time, with Mariona Caldentey scoring in the 93rd minute.
Player of the Match was Brighton’s goalkeeper, Sophie Baggaley, who saved many on-target Arsenal goals. Despite a strong start, the home team lost momentum in the final quarter. This victory propels Brighton to fifth place in the WSL standings, marking a significant achievement for the club. For Arsenal, the defeat leaves their Champions League qualification hopes hanging in the balance, with a crucial match against Manchester United looming.
Arsenal now face Manchester United in their final game of the season, knowing that defeat would see them slip into third place. This would be far from ideal looking ahead to next term, when the north London outfit would have to enter the Champions League at a much earlier stage - something that has caused several English clubs, themselves included, a real problem in the past.
Arsenal's head coach, Renee Slegers, had made six changes to her side, hoping for a response after a disappointing 5-2 defeat to Aston Villa just days earlier. "The last two WSL games, we conceded nine goals, and we just said straightaway that it's really weird and we don't think it's acceptable," Slegers told Sky Sports. "We, of course, don't want this to happen and there are different reasons."
Brighton manager Dario Vidosic praised his team's resilience and performance, saying, "We had to be brave, we had to be tough, we had to be resilient together. We had to be all of that to have a chance. And I thought we were fantastic today and the effort was rewarded this time."
The match began with an early scare for Arsenal as Kiko Seike almost broke the deadlock, but it was Fran Kirby who opened the scoring with a spectacular effort from the edge of the box. Arsenal quickly equalized through Caitlin Foord, who reacted well to a rebound after a fine save from Baggaley.
However, the Gunners' defensive frailties were exposed again as Jelena Čanković scored a stunning volley just before halftime, putting Brighton back in the lead. The second half saw Brighton capitalize on a mistake from Arsenal's goalkeeper, Manuela Zinsberger, allowing Čanković to lob her for her second goal of the match.
Brighton extended their lead just two minutes later when Seike found the net, leaving Arsenal with a mountain to climb. Despite a late goal from Mariona Caldentey in stoppage time, it was too little too late for the Gunners, who now face a must-win game against Manchester United.
With only one point separating Arsenal and Manchester United in the WSL table, the final match of the season is set to be a thrilling encounter. Arsenal will need to regroup quickly and find a way to secure their place in the Champions League for next season.
The stakes could not be higher for Arsenal as they prepare to face their rivals at Emirates Stadium. If they fail to secure second place, it would mean entering next year's Champions League at an earlier qualifying round, a scenario that has proven challenging for many clubs in the past.
As the season draws to a close, all eyes will be on Arsenal to see if they can bounce back from this disappointing defeat and secure their place among Europe’s elite. The pressure is on, and the Gunners will need to dig deep to avoid slipping down the table and jeopardizing their Champions League ambitions.
In summary, Brighton's emphatic victory over Arsenal not only marked a historic moment for the club but also set the stage for a dramatic final day in the Women’s Super League. With both teams vying for a crucial position in the league, the excitement is palpable as fans eagerly await the showdown on Saturday.
