Arsenal Women 2-0 Brighton: Nobbs double secures 6th straight league win

Jordan Nobbs scored both goals as Arsenal Women ran out 2-0 winners against Brighton in the WSL. Nobbs’ goals, one in each half, saw Arsenal maintain their grip on the third and final Champions League spot.

Brighton have beaten Manchester United and Chelsea in recent weeks, and they started strongly, putting Arsenal’s midfield under pressure, and cutting off central attacking routes. Brighton’s packing of the midfield center meant that Arsenal found good positions out wide, but lacked the telling ball to open up the Brighton defence.

Indeed, Arsenal’s best early chance came from a corner, with Vivianne Miedema heading unmarked straight at Megan Walsh from Katie McCabe’s delivery.

Eventually Arsenal did make the breakthrough, and it came down the right hand side. Leah Williamson played the ball down the right, as Danïelle van de Donk made the run. Van de Donk got behind, and her cross eventually came to Jordan Nobbs, whose shot squeezed past Walsh in goal.

Nobbs then became the creator for Jill Roord, but Walsh held her shot on the term, as Arsenal went into the break a goal to the good.

Arsenal should’ve extended their lead early in the second half. A delightful through ball from Lotte Wubben-Moy put Miedema through on goal, but she uncharacteristically dragged her shot wide.

Brighton, though, continued to press the Gunners, and could’ve equalized. Slack play between Manuela Zinsberger and Williamson saw the latter gift the ball to Emily Simpkins, and with Zinsberger well out of her goal, Simpkins shot from long-range; luckily for Arsenal, the ball trundled just wide of the far post.

Brighton continued to cause Arsenal problems, especially in midfield and central areas, where Arsenal kept on losing the ball. That, though, was perhaps Brighton’s undoing. From a throw-in deep in the Arsenal half, Jill Roord was swarmed upon, and lost the ball—only for Van de Donk to pick up possession and send Miedema away down the right hand side. Miedema pulled the ball back for Beth Mead, who pulled the ball across for Nobbs to tap-in past Walsh and make it 2-0.

There was still time for Miedema to try to pull level with Sam Kerr in the race for the golden boot, but her shot in injury time was pushed by Walsh onto the outside of the post.

It’s now 7 straight wins in all competitions for Arsenal, and 6 in the WSL. The Gunners have kept a clean sheet in each match, and the run has seen them pull level with Manchester United, with Arsenal ahead on goal difference. Arsenal host West Ham midweek as they play their game in hand.

Arsenal (4-3-3): Zinsberger; Patten, Williamson (Wälti 70’), Wubben-Moy, McCabe; Little, Van de Donk (Gut 88’), Roord (Foord 80’); Mead, Miedema, Nobbs
Substitutes not used: Williams, Catley, Maritz, Maier, Goldie

Goals: Nobbs 26’, 77’