‘That’s the best that we’ve competed’ – Powell pleased with Brighton’s performance at Arsenal

Brighton & Hove Albion manager Hope Powell says that this afternoon’s performance against Arsenal was their best against The Gunners in the Barclays FA Women’s Super League era.

The Seagulls had conceded four or more goals in each of their five previous top flight meetings with the North Londoners but they went down 2-0 at Meadow Park in their latest fixture this afternoon.

Speaking in the post-match press conference, Powell said that her side’s performance was their best so far against Arsenal in the league.

“If I base it on past performances, I thought today was the best that we’ve competed,” said Powell. “I know that we’ve beat them in the Conti Cup but that’s the best we’ve played against them in the league.

“We know that they are a really good side, technically very good, they cover the ground very quickly and execute the ball very well so even though we lost, I think I was really pleased with the attitude and how we applied the strategy.

“Disappointed that we lost but pleased with the attitude that we shown and the way that we performed.”

Brighton & Hove Albion have taken four points on the road against the current top three sides in the Barclays FA Women’s Super League this season and Powell says that the target is to always make life difficult for the opponent.

Powell added “For us at this stage and against teams of that quality, it is about can we perform?, can we compete?, can we make it difficult for them?

“I think at times we did that well today so essentially, I am very proud about how we went about today even though we lost the game.”

Brighton & Hove Albion are back in action again next weekend when they travel to Reading in the Barclays FA Women’s Super League.