'The players executed the gameplan perfectly.' – Brighton’s Dario Vidosic reacts to FA Cup quarter-final triumph over Arsenal

Despite the duo of goals coming in the second half, Brighton demonstrated their attacking intent and fight from the very opening at Meadow Park and held several early opportunities. 

A long-range strike from midfielder Jelena Čanković forced Arsenal goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar into a superb diving save before a shot from Manuela Vanegas was blocked by Arsenal captain Kim Little.  

Lively right-back Smilla Holmberg did, however, later test the reflexes of Brighton goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie, with the Nigerian emphatically greeting the Swede’s half-volley with her left boot.

Haley ensured Brighton’s attacking intent and ability to limit Arsenal’s passing lanes were rewarded in the 48th-minute, with the forward bursting past Arsenal’s Laia Codina before unleashing her strike into the top far corner.

The American’s stunning effort against the angle was greeted with more Albion pressure as substitute Carla Camacho tested van Domselaar with a powerful shot five minutes later.

And while a pacy cross from Holmberg was a tantalising one, there was no sign of a red shirt rushing in at the far post and Brighton soon doubled their advantage.

Despite impressing aerially when defending against Arsenal’s set-pieces, Hayes proved most impactful from an Albion corner as she rose highest and sent her looping header past a diving van-Domselaar.

Not long after the centre-back’s 63rd-minute conversion did Fran Kirby come agonisingly close to killing the tie as the midfielder slid in but failed to connect with a ball across goal from Camacho. 

While earlier introductions of wingers Olivia Smith, Caitlin Foord and in-form striker Alessia Russo did not provide the joy intended by Arsenal head coach Renée Slegers, the Gunners did gain some momentum in the closing stages.

Nnadozie again ensured her side were not to concede when she denied a strike from Arsenal centre-back Codina, following which a Katie McCabe stoppage-time freekick angled inches wide of the left post on her 300th Arsenal appearance.

The 2-0 victory sees Brighton knock out the 14-time FA Cup winners and clinch a spot in the FA Cup semi-finals, with the fixtures due to be played on Sunday, 10 May. 

Head coach Dario Vidošić praised his side’s impressive performance: “It’s a fantastic performance and a fantastic result.

“I think for the first 20 minutes we played really well in their half with shortening the passes, creating a few chances and maybe we were unlucky not to be ahead.

“We spoke at half time about keeping the belief and fixed up a couple of things, and then we came out in the second half and got the goals we deserved.”

On limiting the Gunners to just three shots on target: “We know the spaces they want to play in (the half-spaces). I think it’s fairly similar to what we want to do and how we like to attack so we practice those scenarios weekly in training.

“We know sometimes Mariona (Caldentey) will come across so they can overload you on a certain side so we spoke about when that happens making sure we don’t jump and stay inside,” said Vidosic.

“They want to drag us out to get those half space runners and if you get Russo or (Stina) Blackstenius inside and they’re one-on-one turning, that’s when it gets very dangerous.

“We spoke about all these things and I think the players executed the gameplan perfectly.

"There wasn’t too much that we gave away – a few occasions potentially but when you play against the quality of Arsenal it’s very hard to be absolutely perfect for 90 minutes.”

Adobe Women’s FA Cup Player of the Match Kirby also said on whether remaining composed was the message: “We spoke about it a lot, just making sure that we’re picking the right options.

“We’re not rushing everything in those moments and instead finding the next pass, playing one, two touch around the box.

“But look, I also think we defended really well. The girls were putting their bodies in front of the ball as much as they could and really nullifying Arsenal in terms of the clear-cut chances.”

On Kirby’s hopes of returning to Wembley for the FA Cup Final: “I always say to the girls that going to the FA Cup Final and playing at Wembley is one of the best days of your life. 

“From the minute you wake up to the minute the day is over it’s just so special and it’s something that I want to experience again as a player. It has been a while now so hopefully we can go one step further.”

The FA Cup semi-final draw takes place on Monday, April 6 on TNT Sports 1 ahead of Birmingham City’s quarter-final against Manchester City.