It was always going to be a tough ask, the bookies’ favourite to win the WSL, on opening weekend, with a brand new Head Coach. When you take into account the circumstances, Brighton did extremely well to push a team full of superstars, as Arsenal undoubtedly are, all the way to the final whistle. For the start of Arturo Ruiz’s reign in charge it was a thoroughly positive performance and Albion fans can now look ahead to the rest of the season with a renewed and refreshed sense of optimism.

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• For a full recap of the match action on the Official BHAFC Website click: HERE
• Match highlights are available via the Sky Sports WSL YouTube channel: HERE
• The SheGulls Podcast will be reviewing the game on Monday night from 9pm over on the SheGulls YouTube channel: HERE – where you can watch via the Live tab or on catch-up any time after broadcast!

Brighton & Hove Albion

• Arturo Ruiz said after the game that he was ‘happy with the performance, but not with the result’, which rather succinctly summed up the game. Brighton had periods when they were on top, they had chances to score, but that lack of a consistent cutting edge cost them – as it did for much of last season. Did Arsenal dominate the ball? Did they edge the play overall? Did they create more clear-cut opportunities? Yes is the answer to all of those questions, but still the Seagulls carried on knocking at the door, playing their game and going toe-to-toe with their more experienced foe. One thing nobody can pick holes in with this Albion team is their will to fight from first whistle to last.
• Brighton’s best chance came before Arsenal’s opener when a long ball from Chiamaka Nnadozie put Kiko Seike immediately through on goal. The Japanese winger drove forward and got a shot away, but not before Ona Batlle recovered and forced her wide, allowing Misa to get down low to her right and make the save.
• Lisa Baum looked electric for the Gunners and it seemed only a matter of time before she made a real game-changing play. In the tenth minute she carried the ball into the box down the left-hand side, Charlie Rule didn’t quite close the angle enough and Baum was able to fire high and hard past Nnadozie at her near post. This is what half a million pounds gets you folks, a young exciting talent who can turn a game with one move, one pass, or in this case, one shot.
• Both sides created more goalscoring opportunities throughout the match, but bar an Alessia Russo shank that left the stadium, none of them were gilt-edged. Both goalkeepers played well, with Nnadozie in particular appearing to be back to her best. It’s been a tough few months for the Nigerian stopper on the field and this was the type of imperious performance that should send her confidence soaring once more.
• The defence was at the top of their game too. Russo, Mariona Caldentey and Olivia Smith had very little impact and that was primarily down to the trio of Caitlin Hayes, Moeka Minami and Manuela Vanegas not allowing them the time and space to get any sort of rhythm going. It must be said, conceding goals doesn’t look like it’s going to be a problem for the Albion again this season.
• The midfield battled hard and were by no means overrun, Lia Walti in particular seemed to bring a composed element to the team, but they couldn’t get a handle on the movement of Stanway in particular and that hurt them at times.
• Going forward Marisa Olislagers wasn’t able to stamp her authority on the game up against Emily Fox, Madison Haley battled hard as always, but felt too isolated most of the time, and Seike put an absolute shift in without an end product. It’s always going to be tough to score against Arsenal, but it felt like the Seagulls could have. How often have we said that in the past 12 months?
• Overall the performance was excellent in the circumstances, Brighton were in the game for the full ninety and they fought hard to get at least a point. I don’t think Arsenal could have argued had they done so. On to Birmingham now where 3 points are needed to kickstart the Albion’s season.

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Arsenal

• Arsenal didn’t play particularly well and it was probably a good time to face them in all honesty, but they will no doubt improve as the season continues. Most of their star names had little impact on the game, the defence looked vulnerable down the left and there just wasn’t the fluidity of movement we’re used to seeing from them. It was their first game of the season too though and some rust is to be expected.
• Alongside Baum, who scored the goal, the other standout was Georgia Stanway who was absolutely everywhere in the midfield. Did anyone have any doubt that she’d be an elite addition to the Arsenal team? As a duo with eternal Kim Little they controlled the central areas and Brighton got short shrift in the middle of the park all game.
• Are fans still doing the YOU’RE SH*T AHHHH thing at goalkeepers any more? Well, Arsenal fans are. It is cringeworthy in the extreme and downright disrespectful in a game that is supposed to be all about the opposite. Albion supporters applauded Vivianne Miedema when she scored against them in her final appearance for the club. Was that wrong? Should they have been pelting her with swear words and off-colour remarks? In a sport where families are welcome, is this the example we want to set? Feels like this unnecessary ‘chant’ should be sent back where it belongs – in the men’s game or better yet – in the bin.
• Editor’s Note: On a point of principle both Albion women’s supporters’ clubs and away travelling fans have a policy of only singing or chanting about our own team. Far from a holier than thou attitude it simply promotes positivity amongst our own fanbase and reminds us that we’re there to see our players perform and to lift them up rather than the opposition fail and to beat them down.

Arturo Ruiz Post-Match

• Thought the players prepared and played really well and that they deserved a point.
• Everything went according to plan – particularly mentioned that the transitions and set pieces were good at both ends.
• The subs had a good impact, he felt that was the right time to make them and they needed to bring some fresh legs on for one or two players in particular.
• To improve they must trust the process and push for high levels of performance.
• Different requirements for Birmingham so the setup may well be different.
• Jelena Cankovic was not in the matchday squad for the game due to injury. Not a long-term issue, few weeks most likely, but he will give an update when he can.
• No news on Walti, who went off with what appeared to be a minor issue. At this stage nothing to be concerned about.

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Other Business

• Just like the Arsenal game at the end of last season the atmosphere was great. Some chants sprung up organically in the West as well as the West joining with the (generally more vocal) East on occasion. It really does pose the question – with more fans on a consistent basis – or more fans in a concentrated area – how loud could they be?
• The attendance was marked at 4,104 and the majority of seats in the ground were full along with Arsenal fans packing in to the North Stand terrace. If the club could persuade more home fans into the South Stand terrace then one day we could see a regular sellout for these more prestigious games.
• For the most part Arsenal supporters sat or stood in their allocated sections. A few made it into the West, but mostly with other friends or family who follow the Albion. There were one or two unsavoury instances in the East though which have been reported to the relevant authorities.
• It was a pleasure to see the team come over to the fans to receive applause for all their hard work and effort – even more so to see them interacting so warmly with everyone. They lift us and we lift them, that’s the way support works.

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The SheGulls Podcast, where we will discuss the Arsenal game and look ahead to Birmingham next week, will be live on Monday @ 9pm via YouTube – and available subsequently on demand by clicking on the ‘Live’ tab on the channel menu.

Audio of the entire episode will then be released later in the week via Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

See you all soon!