Frida Maanum’s goal and assist helped inspire Arsenal to a 5-0 Women’s Super League victory over Brighton at the Emirates Stadium.

Beth Mead fired the Gunners in front in the 13th minute and Caitlin Foord doubled their lead nine minutes later.

Maanum’s stunning strike made it three before the break, while the visitors remained in search of their first shot of the contest until after the restart, coming closest to clawing one back when Kiko Seike caught the crossbar.

Substitute Lina Hurtig claimed a fourth and Alessia Russo’s penalty made it five to move the Gunners up fourth position and within one point of their opponents.

Arsenal were looking to improve on a start to the season that had left them fifth ahead of the encounter, looking up at an in-form Brighton side in third.

Interim Arsenal boss Renee Slegers made two changes from the Gunners’ 1-1 draw with Manchester United, starting Manuela Zinsberger in goal and replacing Mariona Caldentey with Beth Mead.

It was Mead who had the earliest chance, calling Sophie Baggaley into action with a nodded effort that remained the only real opportunity of the opening 10 minutes.

Not long after, she fired the Gunners in front following a fine delivery from Maanum to release the England forward, who deftly darted around her marker before curling a left-footed shot in off the far post.

Foord doubled Arsenal’s lead in the 22nd minute after an alert move from Leah Williamson to win the ball back inside Brighton’s half. The Gunners eventually worked the ball to captain Kim Little, who sent a delivery across the face of goal for her waiting team-mate to tuck home.

Maanum extended Arsenal’s advantage just three minutes later, firing a superb third into the top right from the corner of the 18-yard box.

Baggaley was beaten again when Foord was next to break forward, but her attempt pinged off the post.

The hosts remained in near-complete control as Albion successfully avoided incurring further first-half damage after Baggaley denied Mead direct from a free-kick in added time.

There was a lengthy pause after the restart to treat Brighton defender Maria Thorisdottir, who was replaced by Rachel McLauchlan.

Maanum directed an effort over the bar from a tight angle, while the visitors remained in search of their first shot at the hour mark.

Seike finally gave Zinsberger something to do in the 65th minute, forcing the Arsenal shot-stopper into a diving save with an effort from distance, then came closer when she rattled the crossbar soon after.

McLauchlan denied Foord a second, digging the ball out from off the line after Baggaley had been knocked to the ground in a scramble, requiring treatment.

Hurtig made it four just four minutes after her 72nd-minute introduction, credited with the goal after Baggaley got a hand to her header and Guro Bergsvand tried in vain to clear off the line.

Brighton enjoyed a brief spell deep in the hosts’ half after six minutes of stoppage time were added, but never came close to clawing one back.

Stina Blackstenius was hauled deep into added time and Russo made no mistake in sending Baggaley the wrong way with the resulting spot-kick.

Brighton’s evening went from bad to worse when substitute Aisha Masaka’s run was broken up by Laia Codina. The Tanzania international was brought down by the challenge and was eventually carried off on a stretcher after lengthy treatment to her shoulder.