Media review: Arsenal

that Albion are dealing with an enormous membership when many papers ship a couple of author to the Amex. And, with the Gunners going to the highest of the desk in the event that they received, it was honest to say that none of them had headed for the Amex anticipating to write down a lot about Roberto De Zerbi’s males.

However regardless that the ultimate consequence was in all probability what all of them foresaw, lots of the reporters recognised that it was removed from one-way site visitors.

David Hytner of The Observer wrote that “Brighton had been unbeaten of their earlier 14 matches in all competitions on the Amex Stadium; they had been on a membership file run of 12 top-flight dwelling video games with out defeat. And for loads of the primary half, they confirmed why. They had been slick on the ball, sharp with their actions. They requested questions.

“Arsenal had the solutions. The sport swung of their favour within the thirty third minute when Tariq Lamptey determined to lunge in on Gabriel Jesus inside the world. Though the Brighton right-back nicked a tiny little bit of the ball first, it added as much as a penalty when he clattered into Jesus. Bukayo Saka’s conversion from the spot was agency and exact.

“Brighton had been badly hit by accidents however that they had come to play, as all the time. The vary of their passing was spectacular on the outset and the assertion of intent got here on 9 minutes with a sweeping box-to-box transfer, pushed by Lamptey. It ended with Julio Enciso firing excessive. De Zerbi tried to focus on Oleksandr Zinchenko, Arsenal’s left-back, to get Simon Adingra one-on-one in opposition to him.

“Enciso had gone near the equaliser on 44 minutes, shaping a roller for the far, high nook however David Raya was equal to it.”

Within the Sunday Occasions, Paul Rowan wrote that “Whereas Brighton matched Arsenal stride for stride for a lot of the primary half, [Mikel] Arteta’s aspect grew to become extra dominant because the half progressed. Brighton had been at their finest creating half-chances, however Julio Enciso and Simon Adingra shot huge from the sting of the penalty space. 

“When Adingra’s shot was inadvertently blocked by Danny Welbeck, it appeared to sum up the distinction between the perimeters. Shortly earlier than half time Enciso did get one on the cash after reducing inside Saka, however David Raya produced a diving save.

“Brighton’s substitutes produced some momentum for the house aspect, however Arsenal’s defence seemed rock-solid.”

Lengthy-time Albion admirer Sam Dean wrote within the Sunday Telegraph that “For a drained and understrength Brighton, there was no method again as soon as Havertz had scored Arsenal’s second. Roberto De Zerbi’s aspect are by no means simple opponents however, having did not convert their possibilities within the first half, they had been ultimately squashed underfoot. ‘With our injured gamers we are able to’t compete in opposition to Arsenal,’ stated De Zerbi. ‘I’m struggling as a result of it’s robust to lose.’

“Brighton had triggered issues within the opening exchanges however Arsenal had been nonetheless deserving of their lead when it arrived. Gabriel Jesus drove inside from the left, Lamptey swung a careless leg in the direction of his ankles, and referee John Brooks promptly pointed to the spot. Saka fortunately buried his seventeenth objective of the marketing campaign.”

In line with Dan King of the Solar on Sunday, “the Seagulls triggered Arsenal far fewer issues than they did Liverpool final weekend at Anfield. Arteta will hope De Zerbi’s workforce discover these ranges once more when Metropolis come to the Amex later this month.

“However the Arsenal boss will really feel much more assured that his aspect don’t need assistance from others after they buried the ghosts of Brighton video games and title challenges previous. Brighton had been a menace for a couple of minutes, with Julio Enciso scooping over the bar and Jakub Moder capturing huge. However De Zerbi quickly grew to become the extra annoyed and animated supervisor. Already aggravated by a few of referee John Brooks’ selections, he was irritated along with his workforce as they gave up three good possibilities.

“Within the good previous days, Lamptey might need acquired a pat on the again for making faint contact on the ball earlier than taking out Jesus along with his follow-through. Within the trendy sport, it’s a foul and a penalty, and Saka shut out any unhealthy recollections by sending Verbruggen the unsuitable method.

“Enciso virtually revived the deflated crowd with a positive effort that Raya saved beautifully with an outstretched high hand. Verbruggen stored his workforce in it with a pointy cease from Odegaard’s rising rasper.

“With just one objective in it, tensions rose. Ex-Seagull Ben White made essentially the most of an off-the-ball conflict with Pervis Estupinan and there was all types happening off the ball when Brighton earned a nook. Havertz all however ended the argument. Jorginho performed a one-two and minimize the ball again for the German to power it in from shut vary.”

On the Sunday Mirror web site, Tom Victor famous that “Roberto De Zerbi has made no secret of Brighton’s harm issues, and there are two methods during which these points manifest. It is not simply being robbed of gamers mid-game, but additionally the problem in protecting a constant line-up all through the season.

“Julio Enciso impressed going ahead, whereas Jakub Moder threatened for the hosts early on. Each are just lately again from long-term absences, although, which means the person moments aren’t all the time matched by constant fluidity.”

On the BBC web site, Harry Poole recorded some painful statistics. “Brighton have received solely three of their previous 12 league video games following this defeat, which ended a membership file 12-match unbeaten top-flight dwelling run.

“They’ve additionally scored simply 3 times of their previous eight fixtures throughout all competitions. As of their irritating midweek goalless draw at Brentford, shortcomings within the remaining third had been evident as soon as once more right here.

“Boss Roberto de Zerbi, whose influence since final season has seen him linked with jobs at Liverpool and Bayern Munich, watched encouraging build-up play and efficient urgent fail to translate into significant makes an attempt on objective as Brighton managed only one shot on the right track in every half.”