After offering eight shots on target but ultimately failing to convert in a 4-1 defeat to Manchester City last weekend, head coach Arroyo would have planned for her side to be more ruthless at the Amex Stadium.

However, with Aston Villa registering just one shot on target and four touches inside their opponents’ box, Sunday’s performance proved far from what the Spaniard had anticipated. 

“We weren’t at our level. We were not at our best, especially attacking,” Arroyo told me at full time.

“Their (Brighton’s) shape was a little bit uncomfortable. We prepared for that but maybe there was some misunderstanding, so that’s something for us to reflect on on how clear or not clear the message was.

“We tried to fix it in the second half, we were a little bit more aggressive. But I think the consequence of defending low and for long periods kept us a little bit nervous, a little bit confused in possession. 

“We weren’t able to hold the ball long enough and find the right moments. They were really aggressive and we were not good in the duels, every 50/50 was almost for them and that’s hard to win a game if you don’t win your individual actions.”

One player who won her battle, however, was Aston Villa goalkeeper Akane Ōkuma. After saving eight shots to deny Chelsea the victory in a 1-1 draw on the opening weekend, the Japan international also restricted champions Manchester City from scoring further goals in their 4-1 victory last weekend.

Ōkuma again impressed on Sunday as she performed a leaping save to stop a powerful free-kick from Marisa Olislagers before later parrying away a duo of strikes from Brighton substitute Olivia García.

A beaming smile spread across Arroyo’s face at the mention of the 21-year-old, who signed from Japanese club INAC Kobe Leonessa in the summer. 

“It’s always good that when you have a bad day, you have a superhero in the goal to save you.

“She has been incredible. We are trying to help her as much as possible because we know she’s young, she’s new in the country. 

“She needs time and she’s under the lights now, she also needs to deal with that. But I think our players are being incredible to help her to feel comfortable and the presence and the friendship from (teammate) Maya (Hijikata) is important as well.” 

With Brighton failing to beat Ōkuma and winger Madison Haley hitting the post in the 73rd minute, a result remained in touching distance of the Villans.

“I’m not a religious person in that sense but I was trying to believe in something during the game.

“I felt a little bit of the Chelsea vibes where I think they did not kill the game, we can have a second chance,” said Arroyo.

“That’s what we tried: to shake the game, to go a little bit more vertical, bring the threats from Miri (Taylor), from Justine (Kielland), the energy and the aggression from Mia (McAulay) and Océane (Deslandes). 

“Through them, I think we were believing a little bit more and creating a corner, so it was just a genius action from Lynn.” 

Villa’s Lynn Wilms produced a superb, looping corner-kick delivery which evaded everyone as it nestled directly into the top-far corner, sealing the visitors a point with one minute of normal time remaining. 

The draw sees Villa sit 11th in the Women’s Super League table with two points from three matches, and leaves plenty for Arroyo to ponder. After the 4-1 defeat to Manchester City, the Spaniard described her playing style to the BBC as ‘dictating what happens in games’ and being ‘able to attack’.

With Villa failing to do either at the Amex Stadium, there is much to improve as the side continue their search for a first league victory of the campaign.