Albion suffer narrow defeat at Emirates

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Marisa Olislagers' own goal the difference in Sunday's WSL clash against Arsenal.

Luke Nicoli

2025-10-12T16:30+01:00

Jelena Cankovic takes on Katie Reid. 📷 Kyle Hemsley.

Albion suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat in the WSL at the Emirates, but they would have buoyed by a spirited performance at the home of the European champions.

The Gunners took all three points thanks to a deflected Marisa Olislagers first-half own goal, but Dario Vidosic's side created a number of chances on an entertaining afternoon.

The Seagulls came into the game on the back of two successive defeats, while on-loan Michelle Agyemang and Rosa Kafaji were ineligible to face their parent club.

Arsenal, too, had been left reeling from successive losses, but they started on the front foot, dictating possession and the flow of the game. The hosts created the game's first opening on nine minutes when a well-worked corner move fell to Olivia Smith but her effort flew over the bar.

Carla Camacho wins the ball ahead of Kim Little. 📷 Kyle Hemsley

Moments later Katie McCabe's sliced cross was heading goalwards but Albion keeper Chiamaka Nnadozie did well to tip the ball onto the crossbar. She then did even better to save Caitlin Foord's follow-up.

It was one-way traffic and a Gunners opening seemed inevitable. It duly arrived on 19 minutes when Foord played in record women's signing Smith, whose effort took a deflection off Olislagers' foot and beyond a stranded Nnadozie.

Albion's first chance of the half came three minutes later when Kiko Seike got the better of Katie McCabe down the right flank. She then fed Fran Kirby, whose first-time looping effort was saved by Gunners’ keeper Daphne van Domselaar.

The move gave Albion momentum and moments later Seike was foiled by McCabe at the far post following a dangerous ball across the box from Jelena Cankovic.

Rachel McLauchlan puts Emily Fox under pressure. 📷 Kyle Hemsley.

It was now the Seagulls in the ascendancy with the lively Seike again utilising her pace down the right flank. She did well to latch onto a superb Kirby ball over the top, but Van Domselaar was equal to the effort.

Arsenal had failed to create a single opening since their goal while the Albion continued to press for the equaliser, with Carla Camacho dragging an effort wide. Seike also brought another save out of Van Domselaar with the Gunners no doubt relieved to hear the half-time whistle.

The hosts were further breathing a sigh of relief on the hour mark when Camacho rose to meet a Seike cross from the right, only to see Van Domselaar spectacularly palm away the goalbound header.

There was concern for the Seagulls with Maelys Mpombe stretchered off after the defender was treated for ten minutes pitchside when she was hit in the face by the ball. She suffered a concussion but recovered in the dressing room and was able to travel home with the rest of the squad.

Maelys Mpome looks for options on her first WSL start. 📷 Kyle Hemsley

The incident clearly knocked the Albion off their stride while Arsenal went close when Stina Blackstenius connected with a McCabe corner, only to see her effort skim off the crossbar.

The Gunners had further chances to extend their lead through Blackstenius and former Seagull Alessia Russo, but there were a lot of positives for Albion.

Albion: Nnadozie, McLauchlan, Hayes, Rule, Olislagers, Symonds (78 Noordam), Cankovic, Seike (98 Heron), Kirby, Mpome (72 Auee), Camacho. Subs not used: Martin, Milner, Poulter, Tsunoda, Baggaley, Carabali.