Preview: Arsenal v Brighton & Hove Albion Women

The final game of the Barclays Women’s Super League season is finally upon us.

With our league position confirmed and a place in UEFA Women’s Champions League qualifying already secured, Brighton & Hove Albion pose the last test as we attempt to secure ten back-to-back home wins. 

Following the recent announcement that our side will play 11 games at Emirates Stadium next season, Saturday’s match could potentially mark one of our last WSL games at longstanding home, Meadow Park.

Our clash with the Seagulls will also be notable for the debut of our 2024/25 home kit, which will only be worn by our women’s team this weekend. 

Last time around

The last time we faced Brighton & Hove Albion in the Women’s Super League, we ran out comfortable 3-0 winners. 

Stina Blackstenius opened the scoring at Broadfield Stadium but we had to wait until the 80th minute for a second, with Caitlin Foord stepping up with a long-range effort. 

Frida Maanum then rounded off the win in stoppage time with a sweetly curled strike into the bottom corner. 

Facts and stats

• We have won all 11 league games against Brighton & Hove Albion by an aggregate score of 39-2. In all but two of these meetings, we have scored three or more goals
• Our Gunners have won nine home WSL games on the trot, with our only home loss coming at the hands of Liverpool on the opening day. Should we win on Saturday, this will equal our best-ever run of home victories in the league
• Meanwhile, Brighton are unbeaten in their last four away matches, which is the Seagulls’ best run in the WSL
• From our current squad, 10 players have previously scored against the Seagulls. Beth Mead has scored the most (7) with Stina Blackstenius and Vivianne Miedema both hitting six past them over the years
• Brighton have scored precisely the same number of goals as they did last season with 26. Scoring against us will secure their highest-ever goal tally in the WSL
• Since the start of the calendar year, only Man City’s Bunny Shaw has scored more goals than Alessia Russo. Our number 23 has bagged six so far in 2024, bringing her overall WSL tally to 10 this season
• Brighton’s Elizabeth Terland has scored 13 times this campaign, which is more goals than all her teammates combined

What the managers say

Eidevall on Brighton: “They’re a hard-working team. They’ve changed details in the way that they play with a managerial change in the season, but they’re well-organised and they’re very good in their crossing game. You have to defend crosses very well against them.”

Harris on us: “Arsenal are very good with the ball, so we’ll have to be very good without it, organized and structured and work very hard from that perspective. 

“So we want to be at our best and show that we can compete with one of the best teams in the league.”

 

Team news

Speaking at his pre-match press conference, Jonas Eidevall confirmed that Lotte Wubben-Moy is still unavailable for squad selection. Our number 3 last featured in our 5-0 win over Bristol City in April.

Vivianne Miedema, meanwhile, has “reacted well” and our coach is hopeful that she will be available to play her final match for the club on Saturday.

Elsewhere, Lia Walti, Amanda Ilestedt and Lina Hurtig have all been ruled out.

Match officials

Referee: Lauren Impey
Assistant referee: Abby Dearden
Assistant referee: Ali Rahjoo
Fourth official: Levi Gray

How to watch

Our final game of the WSL season kicks off at 3pm (UK) at Meadow Park. Supporters at home can follow the action live via FA Player.

We will also provide a full match report on Arsenal.com and the official app, alongside in-game coverage across our social channels.