Lisa Baum scored her first Women's Super League goal to give Arsenal Women a 1-0 victory away to Brighton & Hove Albion on Sunday. The 19-year-old's strike secured three points for Renée Slegers's side in their opening league fixture of the season at Broadfield Stadium.
Baum's decisive moment came in the tenth minute, marking a perfect start to her top-flight career. Head coach Renée Slegers said the teenager's pre-season performances convinced her that Baum was ready to start. "Baum’s performances throughout pre-season had convinced her that she was ready to start, praising the teenager’s maturity, composure and willingness to work," Slegers told reporters after the match.
Aggressive start pays off
Arsenal implemented an aggressive counter-press from the outset, winning the ball back quickly in the opening 20 minutes. Full-backs Steph Catley and Leah Williamson pushed high, while the team rotated players in attacking areas to disrupt Brighton's shape. Baum exemplified the work rate, tracking back in the first half to dispossess Brighton's Kiko Seike.
The young forward almost doubled her tally in the second period, driving through the defence only to be denied by a save from Brighton goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie. Arsenal created further chances, with Olivia Smith and Alessia Russo combining for an opportunity that Russo fired over the bar. Slegers made strategic changes as the game progressed, introducing Stina Blackstenius for Mariona Caldentey and later bringing on experienced forwards Caitlin Foord and Chloe Kelly for Baum and Smith.
Building on the win
This result forms part of a strong recent run for Arsenal, who are now unbeaten in their last four matches across all competitions. The sequence reads three wins and one draw. Following a goalless draw with Crystal Palace on 13 September, the team sits fifth in the FA WSL with four points from two games.
Key players like Georgia Stanway, Frida Maanum, and goalkeeper Misa Rodríguez all featured in the win, providing a solid platform. Late substitutions saw Maanum and Smilla Holmberg enter the fray to help see out the result. The clean sheet, secured against a Brighton side featuring Fran Kirby and Marisa Olislagers, means Arsenal have yet to concede a league goal this season.
The victory provides a positive foundation as Arsenal look to close the two-point gap to early leaders Manchester City. The team's next challenge is to maintain this momentum, with upcoming matches detailed on the club's fixtures page. Slegers will hope Baum's breakthrough is a sign of more contributions to come from across a squad packed with talent, which fans can explore on the official squad list.
