Lisa Baum shines on Arsenal debut after record move | OneFootball

The 19-year-old produced the decisive moment after nine minutes and backed it up with a lively 63-minute display on the left.

Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

Lisa Baum could hardly have made a more convincing first impression for Arsenal Women, scoring the winning goal on her competitive debut and producing the sort of performance that immediately justified the hype around her arrival.

The 19-year-old started on the left in Arsenal’s 1-0 FA WSL win away to Brighton, having joined for a German-record €600,000 fee, and needed only nine minutes to announce herself.

Baum collected the ball in midfield, drove forward and beat defenders before firing high into the near corner. It was a goal created entirely by her own directness, and it proved to be the difference between the sides.

The numbers underline how influential she was in just 63 minutes.

Baum had 42 touches, including 10 in the Brighton penalty area, more than any other player in the opposition box.

She took two shots and got both on target, giving her a 100 per cent shot accuracy but her contribution was not limited to the goal.

Baum completed 19 of her 25 passes for a 76 per cent success rate, sent two passes into the final third and took one corner.

She also attempted five dribbles, completing one, and was dispossessed only once.

There was useful defensive work too. Baum made two tackles and four recoveries, was not dribbled past and won four of her 10 ground duels.

She also drew one foul and committed one herself.

She remained Arsenal’s most dangerous attacking outlet for much of her time on the pitch. On another occasion, she worked the ball across the face of goal after again causing problems for Brighton’s defence, but no team-mate was there to finish.

For a teenager making her first competitive appearance in English football, there was very little hesitation in her game. Baum looked willing to carry the ball, take responsibility and attack defenders, qualities that gave Arsenal a different kind of threat from the left.

Her debut ended shortly after the hour, but by then she had already decided the match.

A winning goal, two shots on target from two, 10 touches in the opposition box and four recoveries made for a productive first outing.

Arsenal will not judge Baum on one afternoon, but as introductions go, this was pretty impressive.

Bild 15 April 2026