Sussex

Emily Salley
BBC Sport journalist

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When Jonas Eidevall resigned as Arsenal manager, things were looking bleak for the Gunners.

They had failed to win any of their last three games under the Swede and appeared to be lacking an identity on the pitch.

Step forward, Renee Slegers. Slowly but surely, the interim boss has instilled a new confidence in the squad and there's a clear attacking intent - summed up by their five-star performance against Brighton.

While Arsenal may have been disappointed to come away from Manchester United on Sunday with just one point and only one goal to show for their 19 shots, Sleger's team avoided falling into the same trap against another in-form side.

Before tonight's fixture, Brighton had only conceded four goals in their opening six matches.

But, right from the start, Arsenal peppered the Seagulls' box and Beth Mead's opener was the perfect example of a clinical finish.

Foord and Hurtig's goals were scrappy, but they were in the right place at the right time, while a second goal of the season - even if it is from the penalty spot - will do no harm to Alessia Russo's confidence.

Nick Cushing has seemingly ruled himself out of the Arsenal job and while Slegers has not been vocal about taking on the role on a permanent basis, the former Netherlands midfielder appears to be letting her managerial performances do the talking.

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Fabian Hurzeler has said Brighton "shouldn't hide" and "shouldn't be afraid of anyone" as the club bids to continue the progression made in recent years.

The Seagulls finished sixth in the Premier League in 2022-23 and then reached the last 16 of last season's Europa League under previous boss Roberto de Zerbi.

Eighth-placed Brighton have now taken 16 points from their first 10 Premier League games under Hurzeler, who said he was "happy" with the majority of his side's performances in those fixtures but conceded they could have taken more points.

Last Sunday, Albion led league leaders Liverpool for almost an hour and took points off Arsenal at Emirates Stadium earlier this season.

"I don't want to be recognised or seen as the small Brighton and Hove Albion," said Hurzeler before Saturday's game against champions Manchester City.

"It's more that we have a big potential in our squad. We have a great leadership in the club. We have great staff members. We have a good atmosphere, a good environment.

"In football, it's about achieving things and that's why we shouldn't hide. We shouldn't be afraid of anyone.

"We should play with self-confidence and we should also put pressure on ourselves because in the end we want to achieve something and if we don't achieve the victories in the games we have failed and that's the truth. That's why we have to also be hard on ourselves and demand the best from ourselves.

"These games, like City and Liverpool, are the best challenges for us."

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Jack Hinshelwood is bullish before Brighton's game against champions Manchester City on Saturday (17:30 GMT).

The midfielder joined BBC Radio Sussex's Albion Unlimited podcast to preview the match and is convinced the Seagulls have shown enough this season to prove they can beat Pep Guardiola's side.

"If we play like we did in that first 45 minutes [against Liverpool last weekend] for 90 minutes, we can definitely get a positive result on Saturday," he said.

"When you're playing Manchester City, they are always going to have a strong 11 out and they are one of the best teams in the world, no matter who comes on to the pitch. They have had a little dip in their form but all teams experience that throughout the season and I think if anything it will fire them up even more to come and beat us."

Manchester City have lost their past three matches in all competitions for the first time since April 2018 and have a number of players out through injury, including Ballon d'Or winner Rodri.

"It's been a really positive week in training - we have prepared really well," said Hinshelwood. "It puts us in a good place to go and put a good performance in."

Brighton are eighth in the Premier League table after 10 games played, winning four, drawing four and losing two.

"Over the last three, four years, we have definitely changed the culture around the place to thinking that we are not just here to make up the numbers but we can go and challenge these big teams and challenge the establishment," Hinshelwood added.

"We've played most of the top six sides in our opening games. We go into these games thinking we can definitely get something.

"These are such exciting games. There is no better place to play, you want to be challenging yourself against the best players in the world week in week out and it is very exciting for me."

Full commentary of Brighton v Manchester City on BBC Radio Sussex from 17:30 GMT on Saturday

Brighton and Bayer Leverkusen are among the clubs interested in Red Star Belgrade's 17-year-old Serbian defender Strahinja Stojkovic. (Football Insider), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Friday's full gossip column

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We asked for one thing involving Brighton that people are not talking about but should be.

Here are some of your comments:

Marty: Why did we let Buonanotte go on loan? He's in fine form for Leicester. I find it a bizarre decision when we are so injury-prone, which in itself calls into question the effectiveness of the new medical team.

Olivia: We still can't put in consistently good performances against teams fighting relegation. We won two out of six against teams who went down last season and haven't played good enough against Wolves and Ipswich this season. It's a mentality that's stuck for years and seems to be passed down from squad to squad. I don't know what'll fix it but it has to come soon.

O: The fact that when he's playing, Baleba is absolutely running the game every single time. Upcoming superstar.

James: The obsession with replacing Baleba with Wieffer late in the game and conceding control of the midfield.

Joe: Despite all the fanfare around Hurzeler's appointment and a record transfer spend we sit eighth - the joint worst league placing at this stage of the season over the past four years. Should we expect better?

Sam: It's been a great start to the season overall. We've had new players arrive, a new manager and a new system. We can't expect ourselves to go and win the league. However, opportunities have been there and we haven't taken them. It seems we switch of for small periods of games which you just can't do. We were punished for that twice but we will learn.

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Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler hopes academy graduate Jack Hinshelwood has a big future for his national team, as well as the Seagulls.

The squad for England's upcoming matches against Greece and Republic of Ireland is being announced on Thursday, and Hurzeler was asked by the media of Hinshelwood's future for the Three Lions.

"In understanding the game, recognising the spaces, having a good touch and passing, he is already one of the best," Hurzeler said in a news conference when asked about the England Under-21 international.

"Now it's about finding the consistency, showing these actions over 90 minutes. What he is doing so far is impressive and he is a big part of the future of this club and hopefully for the national team as well. I will call Thomas [Tuchel, incoming England manager] and give him advice on this player."

Hurzeler was also asked about the other young midfielders in his squad and is insistent on not treating them any differently to the more senior figures within his playing group.

"For me it's not about age, it's about being good or not and the players on the pitch deserve to play," he added.

"It's not about treating them like young players because in the end we need to win games. In the midfield, they can change the dynamic of the game and break the dynamic of the opponents.

"Even when they are young, I demand that they ask for the ball and continue playing with courage. This is the way that they improve in these tough moments, to show personality and not being afraid of making mistakes."

Listen to more from Hurzeler on BBC Sounds

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Brighton manager Dario Vidosic believes it's "possible" his side can claim a top three finish in the Women's Super League this season.

The club currently sit third in the WSL, with four wins from their opening six games.

Brighton, who finished ninth last season under interim boss Mikey Harris, trail league leaders Manchester City by just three points.

Asked whether a top-three finish was realistic this season, Vidosic said: "If we continue on the path, I think it is. Until it's impossible, it's possible."

"The results, again, they're never certainties, especially in a league as tough as ours, where the biggest clubs have had troubles every week."

Brighton claimed a 1-0 win against Leicester on Sunday, a performance that was watched on by the club's men's head coach Fabian Hurzeler.

"It's awesome, especially he's just come back from Anfield and I can imagine, mentally very fatigued when you go and play Liverpool," Vidosic said.

"Throughout this week, I've sat down, spoke with him, spoke about the game, asked him if he saw something.

"To top it all off, he's preparing for Manchester City and Pep [Guardiola] this weekend, and he's still willing to sit down with me, give me some time to talk about, our team and how we can progress.

"I've got nothing but the best of words for him. He's a world class coach, but he's an even better person."

Brighton boss Dario Vidosic has been speaking to the media before Friday's Women's Super League game against Arsenal (kick-off 19:00 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• On-loan forward Michelle Agyemang is not available to play against her parent club.

• Pauline Bremer is "a couple of weeks" away from making her return from injury.

• Vidosic said Brighton's first-half display against Leicester last weekend was their "best performance of the season".

• On Nikita Parris scoring three goals in three games, he said: "Her best is still coming".

• Asked if he thinks of his third-placed side as title contenders, Vidosic said: "I think the table only matters on the last day of the season".

• He said Arsenal are "still a fantastic team" despite their difficult start to the season, and they have "a lot of players that can hurt you".

• On playing at the Emirates, Vidosic said it was a "dream" for players to play at big stadiums, adding: "All the eyes around the world will be on this game as well. So it's a pressure, but it's a privilege".

• The Brighton boss said it was "awesome" that Brighton men's head coach Fabian Hurzeler watched their game at Broadfield Stadium last weekend.