Well, at least it wasn’t 4-0 this time. That might sound a little facetious in light of the spirited performance Brighton put in yesterday, but I promise there’s logic behind the levity.

When Arsenal came to Crawley last season they were 2-0 up inside 10 minutes and 4-0 up at half time. The rest of the game they just patiently waited for the final whistle and if they scored another, great, if not, so be it. They were completely dominant. Not this time though, not against this team.

The opening 10 minutes yielded zero goals and the play was fairly cagey as both sides settled into the game, but sadly it didn’t take much longer for the visitors to go ahead. In the 12th minute a ball into the box from Katie McCabe went straight to Jorelyn Carabali whose clearance hit Stina Blackstenius and fell at her feet. After first taking a complete air shot, the Swede pirouetted round to try again and this time tucked it high into net out of the reach of Sophie Baggaley. It was a disappointing way to concede as truthfully Carabali’s clearance was poor and then Blackstenius was allowed to have not one but two attempts while surrounded by four Albion defenders.

Once again you feared a comprehensive destruction, but once again the Seagulls fought back. That’s the clear difference this season to last, we just won’t lay down and get beaten any more. Yes we might still lose, but we’re going to give ourselves a chance week-in week-out with the determination this squad plays with.

That’s not to give a false representation, Arsenal were still the stronger side after they scored, but Brighton had some excellent passages of play, without creating any major chances, punctuated by two corners just before the half-time interval. There were certainly reasons to be hopeful even as catering ran out of chips again.

The second-half began much the same way as the first had ended, Arsenal on top, but Brighton offering enough to think an equaliser was possible in the right circumstances. Far from a walkover, this was a back and forth battle between two teams that might not be equals, but were at least competitive, and the Seagulls held their own as time progressed.

Unfortunately, with the minutes marching on and the next goal crucial, it was the Gunners who scored again to go 2-0 up with Albion the architects of their own downfall once more. A loose pass by Tatiana Pinto was intercepted by Caitlin Foord just outside the Brighton box in the 80th minute. With the defence caught a little flat-footed by the change in possession, the Arsenal winger could take her time, find her spot, and tuck it into the bottom corner from range. Against weaker opposition maybe you get away with one like this, but against teams the calibre of the Gunners, you just can’t afford these errors.

From there the game plan went somewhat out of the window, and Arsenal added a third in the 95th minute. A relatively simple passing move down the left-hand side carved Brighton wide open and Frida Maanum was on hand to slot in a smart finish from a Cloe Lacasse lay off.

So I return to my earlier comment – at least it wasn’t 4-0. No, this time it was 3-0, until the 80th minute it was 1-0, and Brighton went toe-to-toe with Arsenal for the majority of the game. A totally different vibe to the home game last year. We are getting better, albeit incrementally, and our opponents are finding this out. Leading away at Chelsea, nearly knocking off Man Utd, actually knocking off Man City, and holding Arsenal to a single goal in 80 minutes, these are all signs that we are improving, we are trending in the right direction, we just need to see it against everyone outside the ‘big four’ going forwards.

Notes

• Despite the scoreline I thought the defence played very well. Maria Thorisdottir and Guro Bergsvand are really playing well together and, apart from her mistake for the first goal, Carabali put in an excellent performance making several important tackles.
• We broke the run of games where the opposition nearly scored in the first minute – huzzah!
• The first two goals were mistakes by the Albion and the third came because they were then forced to chase the game. We have to cut out these errors to beat teams like Arsenal because – whisper it quietly – they really didn’t have many other clear-cut chances.
• The midfield is still a work in progress. Yet again I saw instances of two players going for a ball then leaving it for each other, only to lose possession. I feel like we need someone with a bit more aggression in there, someone who will take charge, keep the ball – we lack a bit of that oomph in the middle of the park at the moment.
• I’m not sure whether it’s a tactic, or player preference or what – but so often we seem to cross it into the box from halfway into the opponents half. Who is that for? Terland on her own up there? Seems hopeful at best. Are our wingers/wing-backs too afraid to take people on, so much so that they would rather hoof it up than challenge the defender? Either way we need to be driving into the box from wide, like so many of the top teams do, or we need far more bodies in the box for these crosses so that we actually have a chance of capitalising on one. One to pick the bones over anyway.
• Our counter and high press has been excellent this season so far, but I’m not sure we have the personnel to sustain either tactic for long periods of time. We desperately need some pace in the squad to draw the play up the pitch and then make it back if need be. Some of our more ‘experienced’ players can either make it forward quickly or make it back, but not both, which by the time the rest of the team is tiring at the end of the game has and will cost us results.
• I’d like to see more Veatriki Sarri. She’s looked to beat players and had chances to score when she’s come on and we could do with more of that.
• From what I have witnessed and following a conversation I’ve had with the Arsenal Women Supporters Club, it was noted that the concourses around the ground after the game were being obstructed by people who were seeking autographs. Currently we are not in direct contact with Brighton & Hove Albion regarding such matters – which is why we are keen to work with the FSA – but please bear in mind if you are at the barriers trying to meet your favourite players, do make space for those around/behind you and be considerate of other people’s needs.
• Massive congratulations to both Brighton and Arsenal fans for combining forces to sell out The Broadfield Stadium for the first time in the club’s history. Great to see so many people supporting women’s football, regardless of their club affiliation.