Arsenal 4-0 Brighton: Beth Mead scores twice as Gunners start WSL season with comfortable win

WSL highlights: Arsenal 4-0 Brighton

Beth Mead scored twice as Arsenal kicked off their Women’s Super League campaign with a dominant win against Brighton at a sold-out Meadow Park.

Captain Kim Little and forward Stina Blackstenius scored either side of the break before Mead made it four.

Euro 2022’s top scorer became the top scorer in WSL opening day history with two clinical finishes in 21 second-half minutes to seal a comfortable win for the Gunners.

Brighton were reduced to 10 men in the seventh minute when Emma Kullberg was sent off for bringing down Blackstenius as the Sweden international fired home.

It was the start of the season for both sides after the first round of WSL matches were postponed to honor the death of Queen Elizabeth II.

Mead’s return to prolific form added spice to an assured performance as Arsenal manager Jonas Eidevall aims for the title for a side that finished a point behind champions Chelsea in 2021-22 .

A much-changed Brighton performed well, going close to equalizing at 1-0 thanks to good chances from Elisabeth Terland and Katie Robinson.

Euro 2022 top scorer Beth Mead scored twice as Arsenal made it nine wins from nine against Brighton.

Prolific Mead continues in formidable form

As Euro 2022 player of the tournament Mead approached the right wing ready for kick-off, there was a tongue-in-cheek cry of “golden boot”.

Earlier in the week, Eidevall commented that Mead had shown the same intensity in pre-season as he did to help England to glory, although it took time for him to score against a resolute Brighton defence.

Mead’s direct running, nimble-footed trickery and impressive reserves of energy, so familiar to England fans, remained a feature as Arsenal probed for the opening goal after Kullberg’s dismissal.

Vivianne Miedema was a persistent threat and Blackstenius fired a shot against the crossbar shortly after Little found the net.

As Brighton understandably tired, Arsenal were able to stretch their backline, and Mead benefited.

The first goal was a clinical strike, the second a measure of Mead’s composure as he fooled his markers and calmly converted.

Miedema is the player whose record has surpassed Mead by scoring seven goals on the opening day. Arsenal’s title credentials may hinge on the pair’s ruthlessness in goal.

Fans were excited to see stars again

The postponement of the first round of WSL matches last weekend meant that several teams did not start their season in huge stadiums.

Arsenal will be part of a record north London derby attendance for a women’s game when they host Tottenham at the Emirates Stadium on September 24, but the 3,238 fans at the more modest Meadow Park provided an atmosphere excited for his first home game. of the campaign

Supporters were waiting outside the gates before they opened and a club shop on the corner of North Bank – a name synonymous with Arsenal thanks to the famous old stand at their former home in Highbury – attracted a queue throughout the build-up.

It wasn’t long before chants of “Meado” and “Mead’s gonna tear you apart” rang out after shirts bearing his name were quickly changed from the counter.

This was an occasion that would have felt very different for Mead and her fellow Lionesses in the packed Wembley where they had played their previous glorious competitive game.

The adoration they absorbed was just as devoted, however, as was the renewed buoyancy of the women’s game after an unforgettable summer.

alignments

Arsenal Women

Formation 4-2-3-1

1 Zinsberger

26 Wienroither 6 Williamson 2 Carvalho Souza 15 McCabe

13Wälti10Little

9Mead11Myedema19Foord

25 Blackstenius

• 1 Zinsberger
• 26Wienreuther
• 6Williamson Substituted for Wubben-Moyat in the 83rd minute
• 2 Carvalho Souza
• 15 McCabe
• 13Wälti Substituted for Maanumat in the 77th minute
• 10 Small
• 9 Mead
• 11Miedema Substituted for Nobbsat in the 77th minute
• 19 FoodBooked at 59 minutesReplaced by Catley in the 64th minute
• 25 Blackstenius Substituted for Hurtigat 64 minutes

Substitutes

• 3 Wuben-Moy
• 5 Beattie
• 7Catley
• 8 Nobbs
• 12 Maanum
• 16 Maritz
• 17 Hurtig
• 18 Marquesses
• 23 Iwabuchi

Women of Brighton

Formation 4-4-2

1 Walsh

2Fox20Williams16Kullberg3Pattinson

12Bance10Olme9Lee7Sarri

11Terland15Green

• 1 Walsh
• 2 Fox
• 20 Williams
• 16 KullbergBooked 7 minutes away
• 3 Pattinson
• 12Bance Replaced Robinson at 45 minutes
• 10Olme Replaced by Fergusonat 86 minutes
• 9 Lee
• 7 Sarri
• 11 Terlanda
• 15 green

Substitutes

• 14 Park
• 22 Robinson
• 23 Jarvis
• 24 Ferguson
• 40 Commissioning

Referee: Lisa Benn

Attendance: 3,238

Live text

1. End of Match, Arsenal Women 4, Brighton & Hove Albion Women 0.

2. Second Half End, Arsenal Women 4, Brighton & Hove Albion Women 0.

3. Beth Mead (Arsenal Women) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

4. Foul by Victoria Williams (Brighton and Hove Albion Women).

5. failed attempt Lotte Wubben-Moy (Arsenal Women) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the right.

6. Attempt blocked. Jordan Nobbs (Arsenal Women) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Beth Mead.

7. Attempt blocked. Frida Maanum (Arsenal Women) right footed shot from the center of the box is blocked. Assisted by Lina Hurtig.

8. Corner, Arsenal Women. Corner taken by Victoria Williams.

9. Beth Mead (Arsenal Women) wins a free kick on the left wing.

10. Foul by Kayleigh Green (Brighton and Hove Albion Women).

11. failed attempt Attempt missed. Beth Mead (Arsenal Women) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Jordan Nobbs.

12. Substitution, Brighton and Hove Albion Women. Chelsea Ferguson replaces Julia Olme.

13. Corner, Arsenal Women. Corner taken by Victoria Williams.

14. Attempt blocked. Beth Mead (Arsenal Women) right footed shot from the center of the box is blocked.

15. Attempt missed. Katie McCabe (Arsenal Women) left footed shot from the center of the box to the center of the box. Assisted by Lina Hurtig.

16. Offside, Arsenal Women. Kim Little tries a through ball but Beth Mead is in an offside position.

17. Goal! Arsenal Women 4, Brighton & Hove Albion Women 0. Beth Mead (Arsenal Women) right footed shot from the center of the box to the center of the goal.

18. Attempt missed. Frida Maanum (Arsenal Women) right footed shot from the right side of the box to the right side of the box. Assisted by Beth Mead.

19. Change, Arsenal Women. Lotte Wubben-Moy replaces Leah Williamson.

20. Attempt missed. Jordan Nobbs (Arsenal Women) right footed shot from the center of the box to the center of the box. Assisted by Beth Mead.