Brighton left Arsenal shell-shocked once again as they ran out 4-2 winners in their final Women’s Super League home game of the season.

Gunners boss Renee Slegers had been expecting a response from a 5-2 defeat by Aston Villa on Wednesday, which had followed on from their Champions League heroics against Lyon to reach the final, and made six changes to her side.

Brighton, though, gave their fans a memorable send-off at Broadfield Stadium, with Fran Kirby firing in the opening goal after 16 minutes.

Although Caitlin Foord soon equalised, fine finishes from Jelena Cankovic either side of the break – her second after Arsenal were caught playing out from the back – put the hosts firmly in control after 52 minutes.

Arsenal scored a late consolation through Mariona Caldentey in stoppage time, leaving Slegers’ squad to regroup as they aim to make sure of runners-up spot in their last league match against closest rivals Manchester United.

Brighton had gone close inside the opening minute when Cankovic’s fierce shot from the edge of the penalty area was pushed over the crossbar by Arsenal goalkeeper Manuela Zinsberger.

The Gunners then threatened on the counter-attack as Alessia Russo’s sweeping ball from the right picked out Foord in the Brighton box but she dragged her shot wide of the far post.

Brighton went ahead in the 16th minute when former Chelsea forward Kirby fired the ball into the top corner from the edge of the box.

The Gunners were on level terms in the 29th minute.

Emily Fox’s ball in found Foord arriving at the back post and although Brighton keeper Sophie Baggaley made a fine reaction save, the Australian reacted quickly to slot in the rebound.

Brighton got themselves back in front in the 43rd minute. A corner was cleared out to the edge of the Arsenal penalty area where Cankovic crashed a stunning volley past Zinsberger.

Cankovic scored her second of the afternoon in the 52nd minute when Arsenal were caught trying to play out from the back.

Marit Auee was first to a stray clearance from Zinsberger and her first-time pass back into the area found Cankovic, who sent a cool lob over the Arsenal keeper.

Before the Gunners could regroup, Brighton swiftly hit a fourth when Seike burst onto a ball upfield and held off Katie McCabe at the edge of the area before driving her shot past Zinsberger.

Arsenal substitute Stina Blackstenius saw her close-range header blocked by Caitlin Hayes, with the referee turning down appeals for what looked a handball by the Brighton defender.

Seike sent a late effort just wide before Caldentey curled in a consolation for Arsenal in stoppage time.

There was no late fightback, though, as Baggaley – a late pre-match replacement for Melina Loeck – saved sharply from Russo and then got a fingertip to Jenna Nighswonger’s curling strike which came back off the crossbar.