Arsenal vs Brighton: 3 talking points from 0-0 draw

What a difference a week makes. Against Tottenham Arsenal looked up for the fight and were full value for their win. Against Brighton, not so much.

Graham Potter’s side can consider themselves a little unlucky not to have come away with more than a point after a first half in which they should have scored one or two at least. Even after the break they kept having an abundance of efforts.

Wayward shots in key areas were the hosts’ downfall as Arsenal had to withstand long spells of pressure, all the while creating precious little.

Emile Smith Rowe fashioned himself a half-chance from a tight angle and Bukayo Saka saw an effort hit straight at the goalkeeper in the first minute, but otherwise there was very little for the visitors to be joyful about in front of goal.

Arsenal vs Brighton: 3 talking points from 0-0 draw a Mikel Arteta’s side scrape a result with a poor Premier League performance

On a wet and windy night, Arsenal did not look at the races at all. Misplaced passes everywhere, they were outworked and everything in between. It was just an off night for Mikel Arteta’s men and given the way the game panned out a point away is not necessarily a bad thing, despite a clear want for three points.

As with every match, it provided plenty of talking points, and here are some from Arsenal’s draw with Brighton.

1. Arsenal Show Defensive Steel

Say what you want about Brighton’s 21 shots, but only two were on target and the Gunners backline is largely to thank for that.

In years gone by, the defense would have wilted under the Brighton pressure and conceded. Not tonight. Led by Gabriel, the Arsenal rearguard was stout under heavy pressure – and bent but didn’t break.

This has been the Achilles heel of Arsenal for over a decade and in their last two away Premier League outings against Burnley and now Brighton, four points and two clean sheets is nothing to turn your nose up at. The Brazilian was a rock in the air just as Ben White was a force on the turf.

It was an off game for near enough every Arsenal player, but the back four did their job, along with Aaron Ramsdale, who was barely tested throughout the game barring a magnificent late intervention.

If there have been serious signs of improvement this season, with a fully fit list, it’s the rearguard. They look tight, compact, and most importantly, don’t concede. While three points would have been ideal, a draw away on a wet night is better than losing which is what usually happens with the Arsenal of old.

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