Arsenal played host to Brighton and Hove Albion this afternoon, as both clubs looked eager to see out the 2023/24 Barclays Women’s Super League season on a high. A sold out Meadow Park Stadium was witness to a dominant display from the Gunners as the North London side put four past the Seagulls.

Jonas Eidevall’s line-up was much-changed following their recent victory over title-contenders Manchester City. Sabrina D’Angelo replaced Manuela Zinsberger in goal, with Australian trio Steph Catley, Kyra Cooney-Cross, and Caitlin Foord making their way into the starting eleven.

Mikey Harris made three alterations to his line-up, as the Seagulls hoped to bounce back from a 1-0 defeat on home turf against Aston Villa. Sophie Baggaley took her place between the sticks, with Katie Robinson and Julia Zigotti also starting.

The farewell fixture for Vivianne Miedema and D’Angelo saw the Gunners put in a promising performance to send Brighton packing. Kaylan Markese also departs from North London this summer, but the goalkeeper was not in Eidevall’s match day squad due to an anterior cruciate ligament injury.

ARS: D‘Angelo; Fox, Williamson, Catley, Mead, Little, McCabe, Foord, Pelova, Russo, Cooney-Cross,

BHA: Baggaley; Thorisdottir, Pattinson, Bergsvand, Losada, Lee, Zigiotti, Terland, Carabali, Haley, Robinson.

All kicked off at Arsenal’s Borehamwood home, as the Gunners prepare to make the Emirates their main stage for the 2024/25 season. Brighton’s Madison Haley got proceedings underway, as the away side aimed to add final points to their league campaign.

The first chance of the game came for Brighton in the third minute, but Jocelyn Carabali’s shot was wide and did not require the intervention of D’Angelo. A long ball over the top from Leah Williamson to Caitlin Foord then found Alessia Russo in the box via Katie McCabe in the seventh minute, but the low shot was well-blocked by the Brighton back line. Foord was soon to try for a shot of her own, but the long-range strike curled over the crossbar.

In the 16th minute, Russo provided Arsenal with the opener following a team effort down the right hand side. Assisted by right-back Emily Fox, the England international’s powerful strike found the far corner of goal, the forward’s strong finish curling beyond the reach of Brighton’s Baggaley.

Elisabeth Terland, Brighton’s top goalscorer, was quick to remind the hosts that they would remain under pressure. The Norwegian saw two good chances come her way, but the Seagulls once again watched on as their shot landed on the wrong side of the goalpost.

An excellent ball into the box from distance by Arsenal captain Kim Little was soon headed away by Haley, as the Gunners pushed for a second. Russo was quick to double the home side’s lead, though, with her clever footwork in front of goal allowing her to pass Baggaley and pop the ball into the back of the net from close-range.

Despite some strong press from the visitors, Arsenal were playing forcefully, and the centre back pairing of Catley and Williamson, in the absence of Arsenal’s Player of the Season, Lotte Wubben-Moy, was proving effective. At the half-an-hour mark, Eidevall’s side continued to create opportunities to extend their lead.

Foord and Beth Mead were looking lively on the left and right wings respectively, but the pair had difficulty finding that all-important finishing touch. Russo narrowly missed out on a first-half hat-trick just moments after another scare for Brighton fans, with her shot landing wide to the right of goal.

Though the fixture was unlikely to impact either team’s position in the table, both sides showed intent to attack, playing with real drive. Terland had another opportunity as two minutes of stoppage time were added onto the first half by the officials. On this occasion, the shot was well-collected by a vivacious D’Angelo off her line, a movement received graciously by the home fans and certain to frustrate the away end.

Proceedings resumed following the break, the atmosphere among the home fans electric. Harris replaced Katie Robinson with Maisie Symonds heading into the second half, looking to put his side back into the game against an undeniably strong opposition.

Terland looked set to strike in the 53rd minute, passing Williamson with ease and finding herself one-on-one with D’Angelo, but her shot was swiftly gathered by the goalkeeper, and Arsenal looked to immediately respond.

The 54th minute saw Arsenal awarded a stonewall penalty. Russo was once again in a dangerous position in the box, but Catley was brought down by Carabali with a foul from behind. Little had her chance from the spot, but the midfielder could find only the post on this occasion.

It was Eidevall’s time to make substitutions as the clock struck the hour mark. The head coach made a triple change, bringing on Vivianne Miedema (unsurprisingly to a deserved rapturous applause from the supporters), alongside Laia Codina and Frida Maanum.

Miedema had an instant impact, as the forward scored with her first touch in the 63rd minute. Some impressive build-up play saw Williamson with a progressive pass to Mead, as Pelova smartly confused Brighton’s defenders. Mead would then find Miedema on the right, who hit the target with ease as she slotted it past Baggaley.

Arsenal would further their lead just four minutes later, extending the scoreline to 4-0, as a scramble in the box and a header from Laia Codina lead to a Brighton own goal from Carabali. The Gunners basked in the afternoon’s successes, as bittersweet as the day may be.

The Seagulls attempted to attack in the 77th minute, but D’Angelo did well when called into action once again. The Canadian came out to quickly deflect a shot with her foot, the consolation chance taken by Brighton substitute Veatriki Sarri.

Brighton tried to run onto forward-played balls to counter Arsenal’s control over the game, but they lacked the necessary precision when it came to timing these movements, and consequently were often caught in offside positions.

Frustrated but pushing on, the Seagulls would try to launch a counter attack with a brilliant run with pace from Li Mengwen, but the Gunners demonstrated too strong of a presence to allow their guests to progress into the box.

Maanum would bring Arsenal their fifth with a brilliant effort as the final whistle approached. With a chance created by the unstoppable Miedema, the 88th minute thriller saw the Norwegian’s central run from the midfield end with a sublime finish, slipped in beyond Baggaley.

With eight minutes of additional time allocated, McCabe would exit the field due to injury. Having used all of their substitutions, the Gunners hoped to continue their onslaught, or at the very least maintain a clean sheet, and that they did.

The result is a disappointing one for Harris and his Brighton outfit. It sees the club finish ninth following a challenging season and a managerial change, whilst Arsenal end their tumultuous run in third place, having looked promising across the pitch this afternoon. The big win was bittersweet one for the Gunners, as they bid their goodbyes to three members of the team.

It is the end of an era, and Miedema especially reminded all who watched of exactly the kind of player she continues to be, despite the injury setbacks she has faced. The dramatic scoreline was perhaps reflective of the heightened feelings surrounding the season’s end.

The Halfway Line Player of the Match: Vivianne Miedema