Arsenal 2-1 Brighton
by Layth Yousif
at Meadow Park

ARSENAL Women showed character with a stirring comeback to beat Brighton 2-1 on Thursday evening.

In front of a crowd of 1,617 at a chilly Meadow Park, two second-half goals from Viv Miedema and the outstanding Beth Mead turned around a first-half deficit, after Emma Koivisto ended Albion’s eight-game goal drought to open the scoring.

The much-needed victory for Jonas Eidevall’s side was only their second in eight games, but sent the Gunners four points clear at the top of the Women’s Super League.

Speaking after the match, Eidevall said: “We have something good coming.

“It’s a difficult moment coming in 1-0 down, and so important focusing all the energies on things we can control and focus on.

“Half time was nice, but the execution was even better from the players after half time. It was a big moment for us, those moments are tough, and it’s about how you react.

“This time we won, but looking aside from the result, but even how we are performing when the result is against us is impressive.”

The Gunners dominated the opening stages but fell behind to Koivisto’s header, which ended a 465-minute WSL goal drought for the visitors from the south coast.

However, the home side came out after the interval determined not to hand the initiative to second-place Chelsea in the race for the title, and hit back through Miedema’s finish from close range on 55 minutes.

Five minutes later, the superb Mead sealed the win by firing past Brighton keeper Megan Walsh direct from a free kick, sparking joyous scenes on the pitch and in the crowd.

It was nothing more than the influential Mead deserved for her effervescent display, especially after enduring a series of knocks throughout the match from the Brighton back line that she simply dusted off.

While Chelsea may have a game in hand, Eidevall’s side now hold a crucial lead after a blip in form that had seen them lose to strugglers Birmingham.

Brighton’s defeat means they have earned a single point from 18 to leave them eighth in the table.

The FA Cup now replaces league action this weekend with the Gunners hosting London City Lionesses at Meadow Park while Hope Powell’s side welcome visitors Reading.