But ever the perfectionist, Mead believed she and Arsenal could have scored more at Meadow Park, telling Sky Sports News: “I’m a bit disappointed with some of my chances tonight. I think I should have scored more and we as a team we could have put a few more away but four goals and three points was what we wanted. “I thought we played really good football, it was just our last ball and the final finish in the first half. We were a bit more clinical in the last third of the second half. We’ve set the standard now and you have to keep setting it higher.” Friday’s match saw the start of the 2022/23 WSL season after last weekend’s matches were postponed following the death of Queen Elizabeth II. But Arsenal did not let the extra wait affect them as they dominated against the Seagulls. Brighton’s night didn’t start well. Within seven minutes, Emma Kullberg was shown a straight red card after a trip on Stina Blackstenius just outside the area. Referee Lisa Been ruled the foul not a penalty, but as the last defender, Kullberg was sent off. Arsenal finally pulled the trigger in the 28th minute. Caitlin Foord’s cut-back found Gunners captain Kim Little inside the area. She took the ball around a sliding defender before firing past Megan Walsh. While it was the only goal of the first half, there was a sense of more to come after the break and within five minutes, Arsenal had doubled their lead. It was a thunderous finish from Blackstenius (50), who was picked out on the right of the area by Mead. She took a touch before slotting home her first goal. Arsenal winger Meade then took center stage with two goals of her own. The first came in the 63rd minute as she met an instinctive cut from Miedema before slotting into the back of the net. Just 20 minutes later, Frida Maanum saw her initial effort saved by Walsh. But Meade – who won the Euro 2022 Golden Boot with six goals – lurked inside the area to collect the loose ball before firing home to complete a resounding Arsenal victory.
How Arsenal secured their first WSL win
Image: Stina Blackstenius and Beth Mead scored for Arsenal in their WSL win on Friday night
Although Arsenal failed to capitalize on the direct free-kick after Kulberg was sent off, they continued to probe and press for the first kick. Foud led the shot count but couldn’t quite find the net – shooting wide in the 22nd minute before facing an inspired Walsh, who also kept her out. Brighton’s only shot of the half came in the 26th minute. Debutant Elisabeth Terland struck from a tight angle, but her effort curled wide of the far post and did little to worry Arsenal goalkeeper Manuela Zinsberger. After Little’s opener, Arsenal could have added a second five minutes later. Mitema broke up Blakstenius with a superb ball, but the Swede’s effort only managed to clip the top of the post. Miedema tried to score on the rebound but Walsh managed to see the effort behind. The goalkeeper also stopped Lia Walti’s thunderous shot just before the break.
Team news
Euro 2022 winners Leah Williamson and Beth Mead started for Arsenal. Summer signing Lina Hurtig was among the substitutes. Chelsea loanee Jorja Fox made her Brighton debut. Poppy Pattinson, Vea Sarri and Elisabeth Terland also made their first appearances for the club.
There was a glimmer of hope for Brighton minutes after half-time, with Katie Robinson replacing Libby Bunce for the second period. She also came close to equalizing, collecting a nice pass from Turland, but her shot was well saved by a diving Zinsberger. Despite the score at the time being 3-0, Brighton keeper Walsh continued to make a number of good saves throughout to keep Arsenal from scoring. One of those came when the Gunners had the ball in the net in the 73rd minute but it was ruled out for offside. Mead’s effort was well saved by Walsh before Miedema pounced on the rebound, however the flag was up. Image: Emma Kullberg receives an early straight red card at Meadow Park Arsenal went close again soon after and hit the woodwork for a second time. Meade cleared the ball beautifully for Jordan Nobbs, but the latter’s effort hit the crossbar before going wide. The Gunners eventually added their fourth just before full-time through man of the moment Mead, putting a marker in front of their opponents who play their opening games all weekend.
Analysis: Just the start Arsenal needed ahead of a busy week
Sky Sports’ Charlotte Marsh: “It’s hard to take much from the first game of the season. Although Arsenal have much of their squad intact from last season, pre-season has been slightly interrupted by the Euros, the upcoming internationals and after last weekend’s postponement . “Arsenal were favorites to win Friday’s game. Did Kullberg’s early red card backfire? With all due respect to Brighton, probably not. The Gunners were likely to go on and win either way way. “Arsenal looked disjointed at times. In the first half, they lost possession quite often, although there was always another red shirt there to collect the loose ball. They were also guilty of some poor finishing, although Walsh had an excellent game regardless from the score. “The second half was much better as Brighton tired and Meade began to find their feet in the WSL once again. They will continue to ride high from many successes at Euro 2022 and that earned confidence is already showing this season. “But overall, it was good for Arsenal to kick things off and get an early emphatic win for others to follow. The next eight days are crucial for them too – they face Ajax in a Champions League qualifier on Tuesday before a north London derby against Tottenham at the Emirates on Saturday 24 August. “It’s a good win and three points on the board, giving Jonas Eidevall a chance to properly assess his team. Now, the improvements must continue to have a better season than last.”
Mead: We could have scored more
Use Chrome browser for more accessible video player Beth Mead says Arsenal must “continue to set their standards higher” after the striker scored two of their four goals against Brighton & Hove Albion. Arsenal goalscorer Beth Meade on Sky Sports News: “It’s good to be back at Borehamwood with a big crowd and good to start the league with three points. I’m a bit disappointed with some of my chances tonight, I think I should have scored more and as a team, we could have put a few more away home, but four goals and three points was what we wanted. “I thought we played really good football, it was just our last ball and the final finish in the first half. We were a bit more clinical in the last third of the second half. We’ve set the standard now and you have to keep setting it higher. “It’s super exciting [to have a sell-out crowd] and as we said, this summer is just the beginning. But we don’t want it to just be a buzz for a few weeks or months, we want everyone to come during the season. We want bums in the seats so people keep coming to the games.”
Eidevall: Important win
Use Chrome browser for more accessible video player Arsenal manager Jonas Eidevall says his side put in a “strong performance” after earning a comfortable 4-0 win over Brighton. Arsenal manager Jonas Eidevall on Sky Sports News: “The most important thing is to win. I’m also happy with a lot of what we showed on the pitch. “We showed a lot of intensity, we gave a few too many counter-attacks and I think we would have scored more if we had a little more quality in the final actions. But for a start, it was good for us. “It was a consequence of what happened in the first half because we excited them a lot in the first half and they were very tired in the second. Then the gaps and spaces grow to play and they didn’t have the energy to press at all at the end. They were two very different games. “I thought Beth grew into the game. In the first half, she had a lot of touches, but once she scored, you could see her confidence flying into the game. It was a strong game from her, but from the whole team, it was a strong performance ».
Powell: Tough game, but proud of the team
Use Chrome browser for more accessible video player Brighton manager Hope Powell says she is “disappointed” with the referees’ decision to send off Emma Cullberg after just seven minutes of her WSL opener at Arsenal. Brighton manager Hope Powell on Sky Sports News: “A really tough game. It was very difficult to lose a player so early and from then on, your game and your strategy has to change completely very quickly. I thought we did really well, but when you play with one less player against a team like Arsenal, it is very difficult. “We did well in the first half, we created a few chances. We knew going into the game they were going to have more possession than us so we had to be very…
