Player ratings as Beth Mead brace sees Gunners to victory

Arsenal kicked off the 2022/23 WSL season in emphatic fashion with a 4-0 victory over 10-player Brighton on Friday evening.

A Beth Mead brace and goals from Kim Little and Stina Blackstenius saw Arsenal to all three points after Emma Kullberg saw red for Brighton.

The Seagulls were up against it from the off when Kullberg was dismissed inside seven minutes after clipping the heels of Stina Blackstenius as the Arsenal forward bore down on goal.

The Gunners made their extra player count and proceeded to dominate in possession and territorially, Caitlin Foord seeing their best sighting of goal after working the opening herself with some fabulous footwork, before dragging wide.

However it was Brighton who came closest to taking the lead after springing a rare counter attack. Lee Geum-Min found Elisabeth Terland at the back post, but the forward flashed narrowly wide.

The Seagulls were made to pay for their miss as Arsenal took the lead just before the half hour mark. The effervescent Foord shrugged off Jorja Fox and picked out Little, who finished emphatically.

The Gunners’ lead could have been even greater at the break were it not for the woodwork and Megan Walsh, Blackstenius cracking the bar and Walsh saving well from Lia Walti before the first half was out.

Katie Robinson was introduced for Brighton at the break, and her impact was almost instant. The midfielder burst into the box after being found by Terland, but her low effort was saved well by Manuela Zinsberger.

But again Brighton were punished after failing to take a rare chance as Blackstenius doubled Arsenal’s lead, superbly finding the top corner from close range after being played in by Mead.

Mead then got on the scoresheet herself as Arsenal added a third. The winger combined well with Vivianne Miedema before arrowing the ball into the bottom corner.

The Euro 2022 Golden Boot winner doubled her tally for the evening as the clock ticked down, selling Walsh and Kayleigh Green with a feint and stroking into an empty net as Arsenal kicked off the 2022/23 campaign in style.

GK: Manuela Zinsberger – 6/10 – Not called into action until early in the second half, where she saved superbly from Robinson to deny Brighton an equaliser.

RB: Laura Wienroither – 7/10 – Preferred to Maritz at right back. Hardly tested defensively and looked a threat in attack with a number of forays forward and dangerous deliveries.

CB: Leah Williamson – 7/10 – Typically calm…