- Arsenal have won three of the last four meetings with Brighton & Hove Albion (W), including 5-0 and 4-0 victories in the WSL.
- Arsenal (W) have won their last five matches in all competitions, including a 5-2 North London derby with Spurs (W) and a Champions League win over Chelsea (W).
Tough test for Seagulls
Two of the most improved teams in the Women’s Super League (WSL) meet in a massive FA Cup quarter-final on Sunday with Arsenal (W) looking to establish a multi-title 2025-2026 campaign and Brighton & Hove Albion (W) hoping to land a giant-killing scalp. Renée Slegers has overseen a remarkable transformation in Arsenal (W) since her appointment, installing a high-intensity, attacking system where the Gunners control matches through possession and pressing.
The Gunners are the clear favourites for this cup tie, with the bookies setting them at 9/50 to win compared to Brighton’s 63/10 with a draw at 29/5. However, that should not detract from Brighton’s recent progress and the fact that they caused an upset to beat Arsenal 4-2 in the WSL in May 2025.
That game was one of two recent WSL meetings between the pair, with Arsenal (W) edging the other in October 2025 by a 1-0 scoreline. They are now third in the WSL with 38 points from 17 matches, 11 wins and only one loss, while Brighton are sixth with 21 points from 18 matches.
Slegers’ side are red-hot
Slegers’ team are on fire and have scored multiple goals in each of their last five matches, including a 5-2 victory over Spurs (W) and the win at Chelsea (W). They have no shortage of goalscorers on their team, with Stina Blackstenius a reliable outlet and Alessia Russo adding to that, particularly in big games.
Chloe Kelly has exploded into form with a hat-trick at West Ham (W). They will look to pin Brighton back in their own half and create as many overloads and chances as possible.
Dario Vidošić has installed a pragmatic, counter-attacking system on Brighton that has them looking much more secure in recent weeks and they will set up to frustrate Arsenal (W) on Sunday. Fran Kirby orchestrates their midfield and has been their main outlet in the final third recently, while Chiamaka Nnadozie is a great keeper who is among the WSL’s best in terms of clean sheets.
Brighton can frustrate Gunners
Kiko Seike, who just guided Japan to Asian Cup glory, is probably their most dangerous player, returning to Brighton (W) in top form after netting the winner at Leicester. She could be the difference in this game as Brighton look to use their pacey wide players and counter-attacking style to make Arsenal (W) uncomfortable.
Albion have been mixed in form, but that 1-0 win at Leicester was a crucial one and broke a short winless run in the WSL. They have been solid, rather than spectacular, all season, and the odds on Arsenal to win look far too short given that.
Arsenal (W) are clearly the better team and will almost certainly go on to the semi-finals of the FA Cup, but Brighton (W) have enough defensive grit to stop them from running away with the game on Sunday. With Seike in the team and the possibility of a slick pitch on a cool, partly cloudy day in London due to morning showers, the visitors can get something from this cup clash. A 2-0 or 2-1 Arsenal win seems most likely, but Brighton could make it a hard game and the ‘Under 2.5 goals’ market at 7/4 looks like a value bet if they can frustrate the hosts.
