Morning all.
Brighton & Hove Albion have in recent times, been quite an irritating thorn in Arsenal’s side and they didn’t disappoint yesterday. We also strangely seem to face the Seagulls at this time of the year on a regular basis, in fact, have you noticed how the same fixtures seem to turn up at the same time every single season these days?
Does that I wonder, have anything to do with how lazy the Premier League have become in dealing with the fixtures themselves or the influence of television? Instead we have a French tech company involved in producing the fixture lists and they show a definite lack of imagination, I mean whatever happened to all those exciting derbies we used to enjoy at Christmas and Easter?
Those who run football make those empty statements all the time about how important we the fans are blah blah blah and then they systematically rip us off – as in the World Cup ticketing price scandal – and who could ever forget the mealy mouthed platitudes from those in the media and the high echelons from on high in the game when ‘lock down’ ended and the fans returned. Their regard for us didn’t last long did it?
Anyway, the injury crisis in our attack had continued to diminish but unfortunately, Kai Havertz wasn’t quite ready to return to the squad yesterday. Our defenders are at last gradually returning from their own mid-season enforced break but not before Timber and Calafiori had niggles. But the King of Brazil was on the bench and the squad is looking strong and ready to kick on for what could be a memorable 2026.
Calafiori pulling out after feeling something in the warm up meant that Declan Rice dropped into right-back and Myles onto the other flank with Saliba and Hincapie in the middle. Marli Salmon came onto the substitute bench. Hopefully both Jurrien and Calafiori will be ready for Villa in a few days time.
Arsenal could have possibly been leading 2-0 after only 3 minutes but Gyokeres finished an Odegaard cross poorly after doing well to bring it under control and then Saka fired wastefully straight at the Brighton keeper. It set the standard for some sloppy finishing throughout the game. From then then on both sides were sparring with each other until the 15th minute. Then Saka again got free on the edge of the Brighton box, sliding a nice pass inside to Odegaard who had space and time briefly. Martin looked set to bend one of his trademark shots inside the far post but switched to the near post and hit the back of the net. It was a piece of quality finishing by Martin.
Arsenal were on top but it wasn’t until the 44th minute when a low cross into the box created mayhem and the ball pinged around with Zubimendi, Gyokeres and Saka all desperately trying to get the final touch, but alas it wasn’t to be. A minute later Gyokeres got free down the left flank but was cynically taken out by the Brighton goalkeeper. Red or yellow? It was yellow of course.
H/T 1-0
Brighton made two changes at half-time, Arteta made none and it worked. On 52 Declan Rice drove in one of his textbook corners and Brighton forward Rutter skilfully flicked it home, 4 own goals in our last 3 home games – is that a record? Anyway we should sign up Own Goals in the January window.
Arsenal looked well in control with the prospect of a goal or two more in the pipeline but we got sloppy and following a speculative shot on 64 minutes which rebounded off of our far post, Gomez fired home for the Amex guys.
Bloody Nora, here we go again, another white knuckle ride. It got it bit nervy especially in the crowd after that but on 71 Arteta sent on Jesus for Gyokeres and Gabriel for Myles and that helped settle things down. Jesus had a few half chances but his finishing was as lethal as Gyokeres’s and the rest of them for that matter. Martinelli came on on 81 for the hard working Trossard and on 85 missed a sitter after good work from Saka, no it’s not just Viktor….
From then on Arsenal wasted time and got the job done. It’s 3 points and we remain top but it could and should have been a lot more comfortable.
We march on.
By Kev.
Morning Kev, thanks for the post as always. You summed it up perfectly at the end, it could and should have been a lot more comfortable!
When are we going to start taking our chances? How long is a piece of string I guess…
How many games of late has our inability to score goals been?
Seriously, the only training needed is goal scoring, Gyokeres, Saka misses were really poor, but Martinelli’s miss is criminal!
You wont be winning any trophies waiting for own goals to save you!
Morning Rico, yes it was so frustrating, I read fans blaming Arteta but was it really his fault that Martinelli spooned it over the bar or that Jesus didn’t take his shots quicker and was closed down? Man City also won 2-1 but nobody is saying that they’re just getting by?
I think a lot of it is nerves, you don’t miss out three years running and not have some kind of issues at the back of your mind regarding confidence.
Anyway it was remiss of me not to mention the great save Raya made, it was stunning so thanks for reminding me.
Villa looked good… ☹️
Good morning Rico, Kev.
Fine summation Kev, I watched the full ninety minutes recording on Sky late yesterday evening and was anxious and infuriated in equal measures. Aside from Odegaard’s long range effort we never seriously put the Brighton goal under pressure, just a few scrambles and a lot of high, wide and not very handsome snatched chances.
If we are going to sit back behind a low block, then we need some pace down the flanks. Whilst Trossard fought hard he is not a suitable target for the out ball. Had Martinelli been brought on earlier my blood pressure would not have risen quite so high.
How reassuring it was to see Gabriel return to action hopefully he can play an increasing part in the next run of games.
Arteta, Gyokeres, Jesus etc, they are all guilty apparently. Not for one minute though Kev, do I think these players don’t want to score.
Morning Cicero, seeing Gabriel back is brilliant.
Should settle our defence down big time. But, the defence hasn’t really been a problem of late.