Manchester City were crowned Women’s Super League champions for the first time in 10 years after Arsenal were held to a draw in their must-win trip to Brighton.
With three of their remaining four games in hand on City and an 11-point deficit to the leaders, only a Gunners victory was enough to keep the title race alive.
Fuka Tsunoda struck two minutes before the break to put the Seagulls ahead, but Frida Maanum levelled in the 62nd minute for the third-placed visitors.
Arsenal, though, could not find the crucial winner to hand City their second WSL title – following their 2016 triumph – and first major trophy since the Women’s League Cup in 2022.
The Gunners were below par in the first half and fortunate not to go behind inside 90 seconds. Olaug Tvedten’s left-footed strike brought an early save from visiting keeper Daphne van Domselaar, before Carla Camacho headed the follow-up chance over the bar.
The hosts took a deserved lead shortly before the break when Arsenal failed to deal with a free-kick and Tsunoda’s deflected shot flew past van Domselaar.
The introduction at half-time of Mariona Caldentey, one of five changes from the Arsenal starting XI which lost to Lyon in the Women’s Champions League semi-final second leg on Saturday, sparked the visitors into an improved second half.
Brighton goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie produced a fingertip save to deny Caitlin Foord and stopped a long-range effort from Caldentey, before Maanum calmly swept home Alessia Russo’s through-ball.
In a frenetic finale, Nnadozie got down low to block a header from Russo as Brighton clung on for the point.
Arsenal manager Renee Slegers said: “We went into these three games and that was the plan, to put as much pressure as possible on City but we weren’t successful, so that’s really disappointing.
“Congratulations to City. They have been very consistent in the league and very good.
“Credit to Brighton, who are a very tough opponent to play against. They did well, but we have to look at ourselves and we are very disappointed.”
While they missed out on the title, Arsenal extended their unbeaten WSL run to 14 games and moved four points behind second-placed Chelsea with two games in hand on the Blues.
Hosts Brighton, who remain in sixth place and are just two points away from equalling their highest WSL points total (28) with one game to play, head into Sunday’s Women’s FA Cup semi-final against Liverpool unbeaten in six matches in all competitions.
Arsenal analysis: Gunners fall short in disappointing week
Arsenal haven’t won a domestic trophy since lifting the 2024 League Cup and last won the WSL title in 2019It’s been a week of mixed fortunes for Arsenal.
The men’s team have the Premier League title race back in their own hands with three games left – and then qualified on Tuesday for their first Champions League final in 20 years.
In contrast, the women’s side suffered double disappointment.
Defeat in Lyon ended their Women’s Champions League defence and their WSL hopes were over by the draw against Brighton. Add in last month’s FA Cup quarter-final exit – also against the Seagulls – and that’s three trophy opportunities gone inside six weeks.
At the Broadfield Stadium in Crawley, Arsenal were outplayed for the opening 45 minutes, struggling to retain possession in the face of their hosts’ high press and registering just one effort on target. England forward Russo was so lacking in service that she resorted to long-range shots.
Although they improved in the second period, they lacked a clinical touch in the final third, while Brighton keeper Nnadozie again proved a thorn in Arsenal’s side with a string of crucial saves, following on from her clean sheet in the 2-0 FA Cup success.
Boss Slegers will face questions about her changes for such a crucial match, but the inquest into where the title was lost will go far beyond Wednesday’s result.
Her side dropped points in five of their opening nine matches and found themselves already eight adrift at Christmas – a gap they ultimately couldn’t claw back.
Despite boasting the league’s best defensive record, Arsenal conceded costly late goals – a home draw with Aston Villa in September, and then an October defeat to Manchester City – and don’t have the luxury of striker like City’s Khadija Shaw who can score 20 goals a season.
But they still remain in the hunt for second place, which guarantees automatic qualification for the league phase of the Women’s Champions League rather than being in a qualifier, and have lifted silverware with the Champions Cup in February.
But their wait for a first WSL title since 2019 goes on.
Brighton analysis: Seagulls soaring under Vidosic
Fuka Tsunoda has scored twice in seven league outings for Brighton this season
