Arsenal Women begin a new Women’s Super League campaign at Brighton on Sunday with expectations significantly higher after Renée Slegers oversaw one of the biggest squad rebuilds of the summer.
The Gunners finished second last season but have since transformed their options, with Élisa De Almeida becoming the latest arrival after Arsenal confirmed her permanent move from Paris Saint-Germain on Thursday night.
Sunday is where the rebuild finally becomes competitive.
Arsenal travel to Broadfield Stadium for a 12pm BST kick-off, with the fixture live on Sky Sports. Our Brighton Women vs Arsenal Women TV and streaming guide has the full broadcast details.
Arsenal’s huge rebuild finally reaches the WSL
There is no hiding from the level of expectation surrounding Arsenal this season.
Slegers’ side finished second last year and subsequently allowed several established players to leave before investing heavily in a younger, deeper group.
Georgia Stanway, Ona Batlle, Selina Cerci, Géraldine Reuteler, Lisa Baum, Misa Rodríguez and Isabella Damm had already arrived before De Almeida became Arsenal’s latest addition.
Our full Arsenal Women season preview examined why the scale of that rebuild means competing for the WSL title now has to be the objective.
De Almeida strengthens the squad further.
The France international adds another senior centre-back while Katie Reid continues her recovery from an ACL injury. Our breakdown of Arsenal’s €600k De Almeida move and Reid’s recovery timetable explains why another defender became such an important late-window priority.
It would be ambitious to expect De Almeida to walk straight into Sunday’s starting XI only days after completing her move, but her arrival removes one of the most obvious depth concerns around Slegers’ squad.
Brighton present a more awkward opener than Arsenal may want
The league table says Arsenal should win this game.
Recent history says it might not be quite so straightforward.
Arsenal travelled to Broadfield Stadium in May and were held to a 1-1 draw, despite producing 17 shots to Brighton’s six. Fuka Tsunoda put Albion ahead before Frida Maanum equalised in the second half.
Arsenal themselves have described Sunday’s return as an opportunity to “set the record straight” after those dropped points.
Brighton have also undergone an important late change.
Dario Vidosic left only days before the beginning of the season after guiding Albion to their first Women’s FA Cup final last term.
The club moved quickly to appoint Arturo Ruiz, who has signed a contract until 2029 after leaving Real Sociedad. Brighton confirmed this week that Ruiz is already working with the squad ahead of Arsenal’s visit.
That creates an element of uncertainty for Slegers.
Ruiz led Real Sociedad to third place in Liga F last season and arrives with a reputation for developing young teams. Arsenal therefore cannot simply prepare for exactly the same Brighton structure they faced in May.
The key battle: Arsenal’s wide attack against Brighton
One of Slegers’ biggest decisions comes in attack.
Olivia Smith finished pre-season in excellent form, scoring the late winner against Paris FC before finding the net again in Arsenal’s 5-1 victory over Charlton.
Our analysis of Smith’s growing selection claim argued that she had made herself increasingly difficult to leave out of the Brighton game.
That argument has only strengthened.
Arsenal have enormous attacking depth around Alessia Russo. Mariona Caldentey, Caitlin Foord, Chloe Kelly, Cerci, Baum, Blackstenius and Smith all offer Slegers different combinations.
Smith’s direct running could be particularly useful.
Brighton still have experienced defenders including Caitlin Hayes and Moeka Minami, but their squad has changed. Lia Wälti is among the names listed in Albion’s new-look 2026/27 group, while Kiko Seike, Fran Kirby and Jelena Cankovic give Ruiz experienced attacking options.
Seike remains one player Arsenal cannot allow space to attack.
The Japan international has been an important attacking figure since joining Brighton and previously became the first player to score a hat-trick on their WSL debut.
Arsenal arrive in encouraging form
Pre-season cannot tell us everything.
It did, however, provide several encouraging signs.
Arsenal beat Manchester City 2-1 behind closed doors, edged Paris FC 1-0 and then ended preparations with a 5-1 win against Charlton.
That final game was particularly useful.
Arsenal went behind before Stanway and Caldentey turned the match around. Kyra Cooney-Cross then scored from distance before Smith and Maanum completed the scoring.
Our report from Arsenal’s 5-1 pre-season finale highlighted the number of different players contributing.
Slegers will hope that depth now translates into competitive results.
Arsenal’s first four WSL games are Brighton away, Crystal Palace at home, Manchester United at home and Chelsea away.
Dropping points immediately would therefore create unnecessary pressure before the tougher fixtures arrive.
Arsenal Women team news
Katie Reid remains unavailable as she continues her rehabilitation following an ACL injury.
Élisa De Almeida is now officially an Arsenal player after completing her move from PSG. Whether Sunday comes too soon for a starting role remains to be seen.
The remainder of Slegers’ senior defensive group gives her considerably more flexibility, with Leah Williamson, Lotte Wubben-Moy, Emily Fox and Batlle among the established options.
Batlle’s situation is one to monitor after she was absent from Arsenal’s squad against Paris FC in August, when the club did not give a reason for her omission.
Predicted Arsenal Women XI vs Brighton
Misa Rodríguez; Emily Fox, Leah Williamson, Lotte Wubben-Moy, Ona Batlle; Georgia Stanway, Kim Little; Olivia Smith, Mariona Caldentey, Caitlin Foord; Alessia Russo.
There are several close calls.
Misa was given significant pre-season minutes following her move from Real Madrid and could immediately challenge Daphne van Domselaar for the starting position.
Stanway should have a major role in midfield, while Little still offers the control and leadership Slegers may value in an away opener.
Smith deserves the opportunity on form.
The biggest uncertainty surrounds whether Slegers wants Caldentey centrally with two wide forwards or makes room immediately for one of Reuteler, Cerci or Baum.
De Almeida could also enter the defensive conversation quickly, but Sunday may arrive too soon to predict a start confidently.
Brighton Women vs Arsenal Women prediction
Arsenal should win.
Anything else would represent an underwhelming opening to a season in which the target has to be the league title.
Brighton’s 1-1 draw with Arsenal in May provides a useful warning, while Ruiz’s arrival makes the hosts somewhat unpredictable.
But Slegers now has substantially greater depth than she did last season and multiple attacking options capable of changing the game.
The challenge is turning that strength on paper into points immediately.
Prediction: Brighton Women 1-3 Arsenal Women.
Brighton Women vs Arsenal Women match details
Competition Women’s Super League
Date Sunday 6 September 2026
Kick-off 12pm BST
Venue Broadfield Stadium
TV Sky Sports / Sky Sports+
Streaming Sky Go / NOW
Arsenal’s official fixture list and Brighton’s announcement both confirm the 12pm Broadfield Stadium kick-off.
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Arsenal Women
Arsenal’s €600k De Almeida move explained as Reid return date emerges
Arsenal’s €600k De Almeida move explained as Reid return date emerges