Everything Mikel Arteta got right and wrong as Arsenal outclass Brighton
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Arsenal got sweet revenge on Brighton and Hove Albion by comfortably overcoming the Seagulls 2-0.
Seven months previously, Roberto Di Zerbi's hammered the final nail in Mikel Arteta's side's bid to win the Premier League. However, the South Coast side were flattered by the scoreline, as the Gunners were by far the better team at the Emirates Stadium. Gabriel Jesus opened the scoring in the early stages of the second half, stooping down low to head into an open goal after Jan Paul van Hecke flicked Bukayo Saka's header into his path.
Brighton had a chance to equalise against the run of play, but Pascal Gross somehow poked wide from six yards after Kaoru Mitoma found him with a wonderful cross. Kai Havertz then made Brighton rue their missed chance by emphatically slotting the ball underneath the keeper to secure a 2-0 win. Daily Star Sport looks at what Arteta did right and wrong in the game.
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Another yellow card
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Considering he had to watch Arsenal's 1-0 away defeat to Aston Villa from the stands, you would think Mikel Arteta was close to learning his lesson. Unfortunately, it did not appear to be the case as the Spaniard was given a yellow card for dissent.
He went into the referee's book after he berated the official's decision not to book Kaoru Mitoma for a foul in the first half. While he may have had a point, Arteta cannot be racking up more yellow cards than his defenders.
Whether its tactical instructions or simple motivation, Arsenal need their manager on the sidelines. He needs to learn to control his temper or take himself back to his seat when he is angry.
What do you think Mikel Arteta got right and wrong? Let us know in the comment section below
Calling Brighton's bluff
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Roberto Di Zerbi's philosophy is based on tempting his opponents into chasing after them. Many teams have managed to overcome the Seagulls by not falling for their teasing tactics and allowing them to come onto them.
However, Arteta called the Italian's bluff by fighting fire with fire and ordering his team to go after the ball and close off all of their passing lanes. It was intense, fast but controlled, as the front four looked to latch onto the defenders, while Rice and Martin Odegaard looked to sweep up the players behind the Brighton backline.
The Seagulls were penned into their own half on multiple occasions at the Emirates Stadium.
Peppering the Brighton goal
By the end of the first half, Arsenal had 16 shots on the Brighton goal. While they did not manage to find the net in the opening 45 minutes, those statistics were testament to the pressure Arsenal placed on Brighton.
Even when the Gunners were defending their lead, they immediately looked for a second. Killing off contests and crushing opposing teams has never been more important, particularly with Manchester City consistently dropping points.
There is a relentlessness to this Arsenal side. They will need to protect it if they are to go one step further by winning the Premier League.
Letting Declan Rice off the leash
Rice has been more of a box-to-box midfielder ever since he joined Arsenal. However, he seemed to be venturing even further forward than usual.
With Oleksandr Zinchenko and Ben White often inverting, Rice was given free rein to maraud forward and help his team-mates go after a Brighton side, brave enough to pass the ball around their penalty area. His added presence closed off the spaced even more for Di Zerbi's side, who found themselves uncharacteristically punting the ball forward to Mitoma.
As he has done on so many occasions this season, Rice covered every blade of grass for the Gunners. That £104m looks more like a bargain with every passing match.
- Arsenal FC
- Brighton Hove Albion FC
- Mikel Arteta
- Premier League
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