Arsenal secured a narrow 1-0 victory against Brighton, taking advantage of Manchester City’s draw with Nottingham Forest to extend their lead to seven points at the top of the Premier League.
While Arsenal’s title rivals played to a 2-2 stalemate at the Etihad Stadium, Bukayo Saka’s deflected goal in the ninth minute was all that separated the two teams in a match that had little fluidity.
Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler criticized Arsenal for employing time-wasting tactics, particularly involving goalkeeper David Raya, who received treatment multiple times. “Only one side tried to play football,” he stated post-match.
Mikel Arteta responded curtly to Hurzeler’s comments, saying, “What a surprise.” When pressed for more details, he highlighted his admiration for his players and their competitive spirit.
Saka’s strike, which took a deflection off Carlos Baleba on its way past Bart Verbruggen, came from one of only two shots on target by Arsenal. While Brighton held the majority of possession at 60%, they managed only a few clear-cut chances against Arsenal’s solid defense, led by Gabriel and Piero Hincapie.
The match saw Brighton press Arsenal for extended periods, yet they could only generate a few attempts on goal, with Raya making crucial saves, including one from Georginio Rutter. Arsenal’s slim lead left them battling through a tense finale, further buoyed by the news of Manchester City dropping points.
Hurzeler’s post-match comments focused heavily on the perceived time-wasting, stating, “I think the Premier League needs to address these rules.” Despite his criticisms, Arsenal supporters celebrated their ugly but vital victory, with chants of “we’re going to win the league” echoing from the away end.
