Match report: Arsenal Women 3-0 Brighton

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WHAT HAPPENED

We booked our place in the Vitality Women’s FA Cup final on Sunday with a convincing 3-0 victory over Brighton at Meadow Park.

Jonas Eidevall opted to rest Vivianne Miedema, Lotte Wubben-Moy and Tobin Heath - but that didn’t stop us from producing a complete and controlled team performance.

Sitting deep in their own half, Brighton allowed us little space to attack throughout the opening exchanges, before Caitlin Foord came close twice in quick succession. The Australia international was trusted to lead the line and saw her first effort saved from close range, followed by a glancing header that sailed just wide of the near post.

Heading in at the break without a goal to our name has been a rare occurrence under Eidevall - but it didn’t take us long after the restart to move one step closer to Wembley Stadium.

The in-form Beth Mead made a mazy run down the left wing and turned her marker inside out, before picking out Kim Little inside the area, who showed great composure to control the ball and poke it past Megan Walsh.

Mead wasn’t done there, though, and with our next dangerous counter-attack, the England international combined with Jordan Nobbs, before cutting inside and finding the bottom corner with a well-placed finish.

By this stage we were in cruise control, zipping the ball about with confidence to wind down the clock, but our third of the evening would arrive from a set-piece.

Once again, Mead was the architect, whipping in an inch-perfect delivery from a corner for Leah Williamson to head home at the far post.

Mead has now scored 10 and assisted 15 in just 16 games for club and country this season. An outstanding record from an outstanding player.