Moeka Minami nods an Arsenal goal kick back towards Madison Haley but the Brighton forward can't keep it in play under pressure from Taylor Hinds.

The tempo has dropped quite a bit in recent minutes as we close in on half time.

Feels like the teams are cancelling each other out, with not very much happening in either final third.

Arsenal had to rely on a Marisa Olislagers own goal to take the spoils when these sides met in the WSL back in October.

This game is giving off similar vibes.

Gilly Flaherty
Former Arsenal defender on BBC Radio 5 Live

We have to give credit to Brighton because they are making it really difficult for Arsenal due to the numbers they've got in and around the box. They are trying to make things really compact in there.

Chloe Kelly has tried to run in behind a few times but their defenders have been in really good positions to pick up those interceptions.

When Brighton do get the ball, they need to find different ways to punish Arsenal though.

Stina Blackstenius chests a cross down and with her next touch flashes a shot across goal that narrowly misses the far bottom corner.

Was a tough ask from such a tight angle.

It's been a good watch this.

Both teams have had their moments but they're just lacking that final quality to produce the opening goal.

Image source, Getty Images

Brighton immediately try to break up the other end but Kiko Seike dithers on the ball and Arsenal flood back to squash any remaining hints of danger.

What a save that is.

Smilla Holmberg arrives at the perfect time to meet a Chloe Kelly inswinging cross in the six yard bx, but somehow Brighton keeper Chiamaka Nnadozie manages to keep it out.

Brighton have gone from dominating the opening stages to struggling to reach the halfway line.

The Arsenal pressure is mounting and mounting.

Gilly Flaherty
Former Arsenal defender on BBC Radio 5 Live

Manuela Vanegas needs to be really careful. She is already on a booking but she is still getting really caught up in this battle with Beth Mead.

Arms and shirts are getting pulled, so she needs to be careful. You don't want to be giving away a penalty or getting a red card in this situation.

Beth Mead floats a wide free kick onto the head of Stina Blackstenius in the box but the danger woman gets right underneath it and it loops wide of the target.

So a bruising few minutes for Beth Mead but it's a telling sign that the tide has turned in Arsenal's favour here.

They've pushed Brighton right back into their own defensive third and are patiently probing for an opportunity.

Image source, Getty Images

Postpublished at 13:25 BST 5 April

13:25 BST 5 April

Arsenal 0-0 Brighton

Vanegas flies in again on Mead and that's surely her last one before a yellow card.

Referee Abigail Byrne is likely telling her exactly that as she pulls the full-back for a chat over by the near touchline.

Gilly Flaherty
Former Arsenal defender on BBC Radio 5 Live

Stina Blackstenius is always checking her shoulders to see if Beth Mead is with her on the press, then Beth Mead is checking to see if Smilla Holmberg is with her as well.

Once of of them goes, all of them go - and it is looking good.

That's not the first late Brighton challenge either.

Manuela Vanegas can count herself lucky that she didn't receive a caution a few minutes ago for a similar tackle that left Beth Mead in a heap on the floor.

Former Chelsea midfielder Jelena Cankovic is the first name to go into referee Abigail Byrne's notebook as she's a couple of seconds too late into a tackle on Frida Maanum in the Brighton half.

We've not seen much of Stina Blackstenius yet for Arsenal.

She's their go-to player for these such cup occasions, scoring 20 goals in 25 appearances across FA Cup and League Cup since joining in 2022.

Nice work from Beth Mead to spot Smilla Holmberg's overlapping run on the right.

She lays it out to the young Swede who attempts a cross into the middle, but it's blocked out for a corner that doesn't come to much either.

Image source, Getty Images

It's not really a surprise that Arsenal have started the slower of the sides.

After all they did have that big Champions League quarter-final second leg against Chelsea just three days ago. That's got to have taken a physical and mental toll.

Image source, Getty Images

Gilly Flaherty
Former Arsenal defender on BBC Radio 5 Live

It is amazing the way the wind is blowing around the pitch.

We've already seen a couple of distributions going in the air, but you can't put the ball in the air today because it's just holding up and it isn't going where you want it to go.