Brighton 0-3 Arsenal: Havertz impresses as Gunners showcase their varying qualities

Match report – Player ratings – Arteta reaction – Video

Arsenal went back to the top of the Premier League yesterday evening with an impressive 3-0 win at Brighton.

Mikel Arteta made changes, bringing in Declan Rice, Jorginho, Gabriel Jesus and Bukayo Saka back into the team, and we should have been ahead inside two minutes. A Martin Odegaard free kick found the head of Gabriel, usually so reliable in these situations, but he planted his header wide.

Brighton produced a lovely flowing move which saw Enciso shoot over from just outside the box, a warning about what Roberto de Zerbi’s team are capable of, but we responded. Saka, who had been quiet in the opening minutes, burst into life when sent behind by Ben White, and having cut back onto his left foot you’d have backed him to score but he curled wide. Saka then set up Jesus, whose first time effort was well saved, and the Brazilian headed wide after good work from Kai Havertz.

It wasn’t quite end to end stuff, but both sides had nearly moments in terms of chance creation, and in the 31st minute, we had a penalty. Jesus got the ball on the left, drove into the box, and although Lamptey got a tiny touch on the underside of the ball, he got all of the man too, and for me that’s definitely a penalty. I wouldn’t have any complaints if it was given up the other end. Even de Zerbi, a man who will openly talk about his disdain for the majority of the Premier League officials, said it was a ‘clear’ penalty.

Saka stepped up, and despite their goalkeeper doing his best to put him off, tucked it perfectly into a place he’d never have got it even if he went the right way. Brighton’s threat was always there, and just before the break, David Raya had to make a superb save to deny an Enciso curler that was certainly going in otherwise.

I remember thinking that at the break, Mikel Arteta might to ponder what to do about midfield, because Brighton were finding space in there that few other teams do. But…

Source link : https://arseblog.com/2024/04/brighton-0-3-arsenal-havertz-impresses-as-gunners-showcase-their-varying-qualities/

Author : arseblog

Publish date : 2024-04-07 08:33:34

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