The 2022/23 season is close to closing its curtains, and it’s been one in which many fell in love with Arsenal again. Excellent wins, brilliant football and an exciting young team. However, the result against Brighton at home means that the Gunners title challenge looks to be all but over. As Mikel Arteta’s side were humbled in cruel fashion as De Zerbi’s seagulls dominated the Emirates Stadium pitch from the first whistle to the last as Brighton ran out 0-3 winners on Sunday afternoon.
The match started in a scrappy, stop-start fashion as a combination of injures and general time-wasting from the away side meant Arsenal failed to get into a proper rhythm in the opening stages. Gabriel Martinelli was forced off and was replaced with former Seagull Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka fired wide for Arsenal which was a fairy lacklustre first half performance. Julio Enciso had a big chance at the other end after being found by Mitoma who slid his cross low across the Arsenal penalty area. The home side only really found any form of intensity in the final minutes of the half and by that point it was too late as the interval was called with the scores tied at 0-0.
Mikel Arteta would have been hoping that his team would come out with more intent in the second half, however that was not the case at all and in fact it was Brighton that started looking more like the team that was going to break the deadlock. And break the deadlock they did as Julio Enciso headed home from close range as the Arsenal defenders seemed to stop still. It looked as if Evan Ferguson had fouled Jakub Kiwior however the goal stood and Brighton got themselves a deserved lead.
It could be assumed that going behind would have woken Arsenal up from what had been a sluggish performance, but that was not to be as Brighton continued to control the game and continue their pressure with Arsenal having no answer. Reiss Nelson did fire just wide after coming off the bench however that was the only real chance at goal Arsenal had in the second half, and it got even worse as Undav for Brighton pounced on a Leandro Trossard mistake and chipped the ball over Ramsdale to send Roberto De Zerbi wild as the Brighton boss sprinted down the touch line in celebration.
With the Emirates quickly emptying, Brighton found a third to really add salt to Arsenal’s wounds. Pervis Estupinan finished well on a rebound to finish off a game which can only be described as men against boys. Arsenal were really poor, but a lot of credit has to go to De Zerbi and Brighton who played some brilliant football and were in most of the control of the game throughout. Very few teams have come to The Emirates this season and played the way they did.
Arsenal’s remaining two fixtures have seemingly very little meaning however Arteta will still want to get back to winning ways as he takes his side away to Nottingham Forest.
Player Ratings:
Aaron Ramsdale: 4 – Could’ve done better for one or two of the goals
Ben White: 3 – Will be having nightmares about Mitoma for a while. Although it can be said the defender had little help from his teammates
Jakub Kiwior: 3 – Couldn’t match up to his previous two performances
Gabriel: 3 – Perhaps could’ve prevented Brighton‘s second goal
Kieran Tierney: 3 – Arsenal clearly missed Zinchenko which shows the Scot had little positive impact
Jorginho: 4 – Starred at Newcastle but was poor. Slow and sluggish on the ball
Granit Xhaka: 4 – Same as Jorginho. Poor throughout and such a contrast from last week
Martin Odegaard: 5 – Tried to make things happen but it wasn’t the captain’s day
Bukayo Saka: 4 – Came close in the first half but was largely ineffective
Gabriel Jesus. 5 – Like Odegaard, tried to make things happen but not quite good enough
Leandro Trossard: 4 – Poor against his former club. Gave the ball away for Brighton’s second strike