Arsenal Vs Brighton: 5 things we learned – You have got to be kidding?

Brighton’s French striker Neal Maupay (unseen) celebrates with teammates after scoring his team’s second goal during the English Premier League football match between Brighton and Hove Albion and Arsenal at the American Express Community Stadium in Brighton, southern England on June 20, 2020. (Photo by Gareth Fuller / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or ‘live’ services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by GARETH FULLER/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Arsenal travelled to Brighton on Saturday afternoon needing a win to keep their Champions League hopes alive. Here are five things we learned from the 2-1 loss.

Here we go again. After Arsenal fell in damning fashion to Manchester City on Wednesday night, they produced their staple late-game capitulation on Saturday to lose to the only team in English football that is yet to win a match this year. Neal Maupay, who was at the heart of the controversy, scored in the last minute of added time to hand Brighton and Hove Albion a 2-1 victory, immediately halting the Gunners’ Champions League hopes.

Here are five things we learned from the disastrous 2-1 defeat.

(Photo by Gareth Fuller/Pool via Getty Images)

5. Guendouzi back to his best

Matteo Guendouzi started once again in a single-pivot holding role at the base of a three-man central midfield. After struggling in that position against Manchester City, pulled in and out of position by Kevin de Bruyne and David Silva, he was back to his best here, dictating play, playing accurate balls forward, and covering the ground defensively well, too.

Still only 20, the Frenchman is yet to establish his best position in midfield. Some see he is better-suited further up the pitch in a box-to-box role. Others view him as a holding midfielder, if he can curtail his positional wanderings which undermine his defensive influence at times. Based on this performance, the latter role seems ideal.

Guendouzi is superb passer. Like Granit Xhaka, he has a terrific range, playing like a quarterback to spray passes across the pitch. Unlike Xhaka, he receives the ball in tight areas well, can carry the ball forward, and is not as limited athletically either. Guendouzi still has all the tools to develop into an elite defensive midfielder. Performances like this one will only aid his development.