Match report: Brighton 0-3 Arsenal Women

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WHAT HAPPENED

We secured another vital win in the race for the Barclays FA Women’s Super League title on Sunday as we defeated Brighton 3-0 on the road.

Stina Blackstenius scored twice and delivered a Player of the Match performance, while Lotte Wubben-Moy returned from injury and guided us to a deserved clean sheet.

With Caitlin Foord being the only other change from the starting XI that fired four past Birmingham last week, we made a lightning start at Broadfield Stadium and carved out a number of golden opportunities.

First up, Wubben-Moy’s guided header from distance was tipped over the bar, before Vivianne Miedema’s half-volley was expertly saved by Walsh, who followed it up with another stop in quick succession to deny Blackstenius from close range.

Beth Mead’s curling effort then sailed narrowly wide of the far post, and this was followed up by yet another outstanding save from Walsh, as Miedema’s powerful left-footed effort was pushed away when she looked certain to score.

For a moment, Jonas Eidevall would have wondered whether it was going to be one of those frustrating days in front of goals - but with another sweeping attacking move, Caitlin Foord broke free down the right wing and selflessly squared for Blackstenius, who made no mistake in firing home from close range.

We doubled our advantage shortly after too, with Miedema displaying outstanding tenacity to pick up a loose ball and thread a pass between the legs of a Brighton defender for Mead to coolly finish into the bottom right corner.

It was no less than we deserved and Blackstenius, who bullied the Seagulls defence all night long, made it three before the break with a fine header, leaping high to meet Caitlin Foord’s delivery and guide the ball past the reach of Walsh.

We continued to dominate play in the second half and created a host of chances, with substitute Nikita Parris coming closest late on, but that concluded the evening’s action from a dominant and united team performance.