Arsenal's Jekyll and Hyde personality exposed in Brighton defeat
Gunners crash back down to earth with 2-0 defeat in Women's FA Cup quarter-finals
Arsenal crashed out of the Women’s FA Cup at the quarter-final stage following a 2-0 home defeat against Brighton on Sunday.
Renee Slegers’ side came crashing back down to earth just three days on from a memorable night in west London that saw the Gunners progress to the Champions League semi-finals at the expense of bitter rivals Chelsea. Goals from Madison Haley and Caitlin Hayes ensured that Arsenal’s wait to lift another FA Cup - a competition they last won a decade ago - goes on.
It is difficult to ignore the inescapable sense of déjà vu surrounding both the result and performance. This is the second consecutive season in which the Gunners have been dumped out of the competition at home at the quarter-final stage, with Liverpool causing an upset of similar proportions last season.
In fact, all four of Arsenal’s domestic cup exits under Slegers have come at Meadow Park, a ground that has failed to provide home comforts for her team since she took charge in October 2025.
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