Brighton vs Arsenal: 4 positives of battling 0-0 draw

Arsenal's English goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale reacts after the English Premier League football match between Brighton and Hove Albion and Arsenal at the American Express Community Stadium in Brighton, southern England on October 2, 2021. - 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 Glyn KIRK / 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. / 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 GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images) /

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TOPSHOT – Arsenal’s English midfielder Emile Smith Rowe (L) and Brighton’s Irish defender Shane Duffy jump for the ball during the English Premier League football match between Brighton and Hove Albion and Arsenal. (Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images) /

4. Emile Smith Rowe Has Maturity in Abundance

Arsenal were poor against Brighton. Across the pitch individually and as a whole, it was a performance where if you can grab a point from it you’ll take it.

Lacking drive, commitment and aggression in the duels, the one player who it was felt could do anything to spark some life into the team was undoubtedly Emile Smith Rowe.

That isn’t to say he was brilliant by any means, as the towering Brighton back three had plenty of say in his display. What can be deduced is that this young man, as brilliant as everyone knows he is, is growing as a leader. Not one by voice, one by example.

Driving with the ball, riding challenges and constantly seeking to push Arsenal up the pitch whether anyone joined him or not, there was something in his display that seemed buoyed by his MOTM outing against Spurs. Already mature for his age, that No. 10 shirt fits him more snugly each week.

On another day his effort at Sanchez hits the outside of the goalkeeper’s shin and flies into the back of the net. Had it of done so then Smith Rowe’s performance would have been rightly lauded. While there was no real goalmouth action, there was serious heart. When the senior players were missing on Saturday, Smith Rowe took initiative in another Premier League fixture.

It’s hard to envisage him not being the standout performer this season.

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