Arsenal boss Jonas Eidevall was quick to praise 'world-class' forward Beth Mead after her goal and historic assist lifted the league-leading Gunners to a critical 2-1 win over Brighton.
Eidevall’s side looked to be in for a tricky night when a backwards header by Emma Koivisto on 15 minutes saw them still trailing the Seagulls at the start of the second half.
But an impressive rally saw Arsenal pile on the pressure, Mead curling in a stunning game-winner from a free kick five minutes after she set up Vivianne Miedema for the equaliser, Mead's 35th league assist bringing her level with Karen Carney on the all-time Barclays FA Women's Super League list.
“I think from the whole team it was an impressive second half,” said Eidevall.
“It’s not easy. But I think we have some great players for it. It’s great to have a player like Tobin Heath in the dressing room that says, ‘Remember, it’s better when it’s hard’, to just get that perspective.
“And of course when you can raise your game like Beth Mead is doing, to put that energy in, I missed that Beth Mead a little bit the latest games and she’s back doing that again.
“And when she’s that assertive and that aggressive, I think she’s world class and that obviously helped us a lot in the second half.”
The win extended Arsenal’s lead at the top of the BFA WSL table to four points after Chelsea cut the gap to one on Wednesday with a 2-0 win over West Ham.
Arsenal dominated possession in the first half but it was Hope Powell's side who struck first from a free kick, Kaagman’s pinpoint cross finding Koivisto who nodded in the opener.
But the Gunners returned from the interval playing like a first-placed side, their unrelenting Miedema-led attack appearing poised to inevitably crack the tight Brighton defence they'd so struggled to crack in the first half.
And Eidevall's squad finally got what they’d been searching for, Mead’s record-breaking delivery finding Miedema in the box who nodded in the equaliser from three metres out at the 55-minute mark.
Five minutes later the provider turned match-winner, with Walsh only able to grimace as Mead’s curling free kick found the top right corner to seal the three points.
A poor run had seen Arsenal fall to last-placed Birmingham City in the BFA WSL earlier this month, then to Manchester United in the Vitality Women's FA Cup quarter-final last week before they drew with Manchester City on Sunday.
But Eidevall was adamant his table-topping team not become complacent after turning a corner, drawing inspiration all the way from the Himalayas as he looked ahead to the next phase of the title race, when they'll welcome third-placed Manchester United on February 5.
He added: “You know that more people die on the way down then on the way up when they climb Mount Everest.
“Those people relax and say, ‘oh, hey, I did that’. That was the challenge.
“Every game is a challenge. I don’t relax. Football is hard work. It’s about keeping focus.
“Yes, this period has made us better, but nothing will come for free. Teams see our performances and they will work hard to play against us.”
To follow the action and sign up for The FA Player’s live Barclays FA Women’s Super League coverage visit womenscompetitions.thefa.com
