Arsenal Women snapped a four-game winless run, edging out Brighton 1–0 to claim all three points. The decisive moment came from a deflected own goal by Marisa Olislagers, which stemmed from an Olivia Smith cross.
Lineups and Tactical Changes
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Manager Renee Slegers made three changes to the starting XI.
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McCabe returned to left-back.
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Foord and Smith were introduced on the wings, replacing Mead and Kelly.
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For the first seven matches, Slegers had maintained a consistent core lineup:
van Domselaar; Fox, Reid, Catley, McCabe; Little, Caldentey, Russo (with occasional rotations involving Wubben-Moy and Hands).
While the changes helped, there are signs that Fox and Caldentey may be carrying fatigue, which has impacted their sharpness on the field.
Standings & Title Hopes
Although this victory was much needed, Arsenal still sit fifth in the table. With Chelsea, Manchester United, and Manchester City all winning their matches, Arsenal have been unable to close the gap to the top three. However, the Gunners have pulled within one point of fourth-placed Tottenham.
Current point gaps:
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Chelsea: 5 points ahead of Arsenal
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Manchester United: 3 points ahead
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Manchester City: 1 point ahead
Player of the Match & New Rules
Daphne van Domselaar earned Player of the Match honors thanks to a clean sheet and several key saves. We asked her about the recently introduced 8-second rule for goalkeepers:
“It is new, we all have to get used to it still … you cannot switch off, it is hard but we are getting used to it more and more.”
On build-up play: “If the opposition presses you, you need to act fast … it depends on how much pressure there is.”
After an outstanding 2024/25 campaign, some fans had questioned her consistency this season—but her performance in this match suggested she’s on her way back to top form.
Looking Ahead
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Next up: A must-win Champions League tie in Benfica, a return to Lisbon where Arsenal have strong memories.
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Then comes an international break, during which some players will be away on duty (UEFA Nations League, friendlies), leaving limited rest time before a busy stretch: three league games + two Champions League matches in 17 days.
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