If Arsenal are severe about profitable the Premier League this season then Mikel Arteta could need to rethink his plans for the January switch market. This was one other two factors dropped within the race to maintain up with pacesetters Liverpool as a penalty from João Pedro cancelled out Ethan Nwaneri’s second Premier League purpose. However it might have been even worse had Fabian Hürzeler’s facet taken their possibilities in a second half once they have been a lot improved.
Regardless of extending their unbeaten run in all competitions to 12 matches, Arsenal have develop into too reliant on their prowess from set items and have been hanging on on the finish within the face of concerted Brighton stress. Arteta has to this point insisted that he’s proud of the squad at his disposal but he certainly wants reinforcements in assault given the prolonged absence of talisman Bukayo Saka and different obstacles which might be presenting themselves.
With the prospect of seven extra video games to come back this month, the illness bug that once more meant Arsenal have been with out Kai Havertz and will solely title Martin Ødegaard and Gabriel Martinelli on the bench was not precisely useful for Arteta’s plans. He entrusted Nwaneri with a second successive begin on the best flank after {the teenager} impressed on his full Premier League debut towards Brentford, whereas Leandro Trossard – who was booed all through – was recalled towards his former membership on the left. Jorginho additionally returned to the beginning lineup for the primary time in virtually a month alongside Declan Rice and Mikel Merino in a midfield that appeared in need of creativity with out their captain.
Brighton – who have been with out captain Lewis Dunk because of a calf pressure – had solely misplaced as soon as right here this season however their dwelling type has been patchy to say the least, with Hürzeler admitting this week that he understands supporters’ frustration at current outcomes. One among their points has been scoring sufficient objectives whereas Danny Welbeck stays sidelined as Matt O’Riley was given a possibility to help João Pedro in assault. But it was on the different finish that the hosts confirmed their fallibility early on when Merino performed in Jesus, just for him to be dominated offside after Bart Verbruggen had saved his shot.
Brighton didn’t heed their warning and have been caught out when Rice gained the ball on the best touchline and located Merino, whose by ball was completely weighted for Nwaneri. He raced away from Jan Paul van Hecke after which beat Verbruggen with a shot that the Brighton goalkeeper ought to in all probability have executed higher with to spark joyous celebrations within the away finish. “He’s certainly one of our personal,” sang the Arsenal followers.
David Raya wanted therapy after being clattered by O’Riley following a Brighton assault however the Arsenal goalkeeper was underemployed for a lot of the first half as the house facet have been saved at arms’ size. Even when Simon Adingra was arrange by João Pedro after good work down the left by Brajan Gruda, the Ivory Coast ahead couldn’t hit the goal from 10 yards out.
It wanted some nifty footwork from Verbruggen to keep away from gifting Arsenal one other purpose when he was charged down by Jesus earlier than he headed over from a harmful Rice nook that left the Brazilian on the bottom when Merino collided with him.
Nwaneri had been booked simply earlier than half-time for delaying taking one other nook and he was changed by Martinelli on the break, whereas Hürzeler turned to report signing Georginio Rutter and Yankuba Minteh off the bench in an try and raise his facet.
The Brighton supervisor’s frustration at referee Anthony Taylor threatened to boil over when one other determination went towards them at first of the second half however his facet continued to lack a leading edge. Not unusually, Arsenal’s greatest hope of extending their lead appeared like coming from a set piece and Merino couldn’t make correct contact on a low free-kick from Rice that fizzed throughout the goalmouth.
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However catastrophe struck when William Saliba mistimed his problem on João Pedro contained in the Arsenal space and caught the Brighton striker within the face along with his head. This time, Taylor got here down in favour of the house facet and João Pedro dispatched his penalty previous Raya to equalise.
Arteta threw on Ødegaard instead of Jorginho, who escaped punishment regardless of being noticed aiming a kick at Joël Veltman when the penalty was taken. But immediately it was Brighton who sensed a possibility.
Minteh was inches away from discovering Kaoru Mitoma on the again submit after a lightning fast break that should have had Arteta fearing the worst. However regardless that his defence stood agency ultimately, this was one other actuality test for the Arsenal supervisor.
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