Pain in the Arsenal
Fansided

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

By Andrew Dowdeswell

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)
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) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 5
Next
(Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
(Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images) /

2. That is the £72 million Nicolas Pepe

If there was one major positive to take from Arsenal’s 2-1 defeat to Brighton, it was both the performance of and singular moment of quality from Nicolas Pepe, who finally started to look like the £72 million player that the club signed last summer.

This was one of Pepe’s best performances for the club. Routinely isolated against Brighton left-back Dan Burn, he gave him the runaround in the first half, beating him with ease almost every time he received the ball. He was the team’s primary outlet, drove into the penalty area, and won several freekicks. Then, in the second half, he produced the best moment of the match, picking up the ball just inside the penalty area and bending a lovely left-footed strike into the far corner.

Mikel Arteta was harsh on Pepe in the week, demanding that he produce on a more consistent basis. After not playing a single minute against City on Wednesday, he started here and responded well. Hopefully this will be the start of something special for Arsenal and Nicolas Pepe.