Renee Slegers' side have conceded nine goals in just two games to lose back-to-back league games for the first time in two years

Arsenal have opened the door for Manchester United to pinch second place in the Women's Super League on the final game of the season after producing back-to-back defensive disasterclasses in the space of just five days. On Wednesday, the Gunners were all at sea in a 5-2 loss to Aston Villa and, despite Renee Slegers returning to a full strength XI for Monday's trip to Brighton, little changed in an incredible 4-2 loss to the Seagulls.

It's the first time Arsenal have lost successive league games in the same season for two years and the signs were there in the first few minutes, when Kiko Seike almost broke the deadlock and then Mariona Caldentey nearly passed the ball into the back of her own net. It would be former players of the Gunners' biggest WSL rival, though, that really haunted them on the south coast, first when Chelsea icon Fran Kirby curled an effort into the top corner in the opening stages.

It was a lead Brighton deserved, having started well, but it only seemed to kick the visitors into gear. Alessia Russo hit the post immediately afterwards, both Kim Little and Frida Maanum were denied from point blank range by the brilliant Sophie Baggaley and then Caitlin Foord finally found the equaliser, getting a second bite of the cherry following a sensational cross from Mariona Caldentey.

As well as the defending, though, the problem was that Arsenal continued to be wasteful. Baggaley made some fantastic saves, earning the Player of the Match accolade, but mishit efforts, free headers sent off target and shots right at the Brighton goalkeeper would be punished by her attacking team-mates, next by another ex-Chelsea player as Jelena Cankovic bagged a brilliant brace either side of half-time. The Seagulls' scoring was then rounded off by the lively Seike, who got her well-earned goal before the hour.

It prompted Slegers to make a quadruple sub, hoping to wrestle back some sort of control, but despite Caldentey pulling one back in stoppage time, the damage was already done. The Gunners now head into their final game of the season, at home to United, knowing that defeat would see them slip into third place. That would be far from ideal looking ahead to next term, when the north London outfit would have to enter the Champions League at a much earlier stage – something that has caused several English clubs, themselves included, a real problem in the past.

GOAL rates Arsenal's players from the Broadfield Stadium…

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Manuela Zinsberger (3/10):

Gave the ball away in the build-up to Brighton's third and then hesitated too much to close down Cankovic. Came after a few shaky moments on the ball already.

Emily Fox (4/10):

Supported the attack well but often at the expense of her defensive duties. The space behind her was exploited on several occasions.

Leah Williamson (5/10):

Produced two strong pieces of defending to thwart Seike either side of half time, though didn't cover herself in glory for Brighton's opener.

Steph Catley (5/10):

A little too sloppy in possession at times.

Katie McCabe (4/10):

Got forward plenty and saw a lot of the ball but only really created one decent chance. Caught out too easily by Seike for Brighton's fourth.

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Kim Little (6/10):

Moved the ball really well, completing all 39 of her first half passes. Off before the hour when Slegers made four subs.

Mariona Caldentey (6/10):

A poor pass nearly ended up in an own goal within the first few minutes but, after that, she was at the heart of everything positive for Arsenal, providing a sublime cross for Foord's goal and netting a stunner of her own late on.

Frida Maanum (5/10):

Moved well off the ball to pick up pockets of space in dangerous areas, though did spurn a great chance which she hit straight at Baggaley.

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Beth Mead (4/10):

A mixed performance, with some sloppy moments on the ball but also some bright sparks in the final third. Should've done much better with a couple of opportunities.

Alessia Russo (6/10):

Was unlucky not to have two assists and a goal by half-time, after creating two brilliant chances and hitting the post with a header. Didn't get much more service despite Arsenal's good build-up.

Caitlin Foord (6/10):

Carved out several big opportunities and also got herself on the scoresheet, though could've had more than just the one.

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Lia Walti (5/10):

Came on to wrestle control of the game but couldn't do so in a manner which was able to recover a three-goal deficit.

Stina Blackstenius (4/10):

Had a trio of headers that she should've done better with.

Jenna Nighswonger (6/10):

Looked good, all things considered, in just her fourth league appearance. Unlucky to hit the bar late on with a terrific strike.

Chloe Kelly (6/10):

Created a couple of chances in her half an hour on the pitch, they just weren't taken.

Victoria Pelova (N/A):

A late sub.

Renee Slegers (5/10):

Reverted back to a more ordinary XI after her rotated one was shockingly beaten by Aston Villa on Wednesday, but it didn't stop Arsenal's defensive woes. Responded with four subs before the hour but they didn't work. The damage was already done by that point, too. Perhaps she could've responded earlier.