Arsenal 1-2 Brighton: 3 talking points from crushing top four blow

Arsenal suffered back-to-back Premier League defeats at home to Brighton after another abysmal display on Saturday. Goals from Leandro Trossard and Enock Mwepu gave the visitors a two goal lead, and while Martin Odegaard scored a long-range effort via a deflection late on, the visitors held on for a memorable 2-1 win.

Mikel Arteta was forced to make two changes with Albert Sambi Lokonga and Emile Smith Rowe coming into the starting XI for Kieran Tierney and Thomas Partey. Granit Xhaka, as he did around this time last season, started at left-back.

The visitors started the better of the two sides, with Graham Potter’s side enjoying the lion’s share of possession, even if it was an underwhelming first 25 minutes with both sides very reserved in possession and not willing to take any chances going forward.

Brighton would take the lead just before the half-hour mark. The outstanding Mwepu latched onto a forward pass from Lewis Dunk before brilliantly cutting it back for Trossard to slam home from close range.

Arsenal 1-2 Brighton: 3 talking points from crushing top four blow as Mikel Arteta’s side suffer devastating Premier League defeat

With merely seconds left in the first half, Arsenal thought they were level. A corner from Bukayo Saka found Gabriel who headed back across goal where Gabriel Martinelli prodded home. However, after a four-minute check, VAR decided the Brazilian was offside. It was a poor first half from the Gunners as they went into the sheds 1-0 down.

Arsenal started the second half in a much brighter fashion, dominating possession as they pushed for an equalizer, even if their shape remained puzzling even to the players. And yet, Brighton doubled their lead in the 66th minute. The visitors struck a killer blow with a fantastic strike from the edge of the box from Mwepu giving the Gunners all sorts of problems.

The home side continued to press to get back into the game, and finally got the first of two goals they sought with mere minutes remaining in normal time as Odegaard’s strike from distance took a wicked deflection off Danny Welbeck to loop over Robert Sanchez.

However, Brighton stood firm to claim a vital three points and bring Arsenal’s top-four bid into serious question. The game provided plenty of unwelcome talking points.

No Thomas, no Partey

With the Ghanaian sidelined with a thigh injury, Arsenal deployed Sambi Lokonga in his place. It didn’t work. The Gunners looked completely devoid of ideas against Brighton.

There was no link between attack and defense as far too many times Arsenal sluggishly passed sideways and backwards. With Thomas Partey in midfield there was always an option to turn and drive forward, which was nowhere to be seen today. It was too pedestrian.

Such was his absence that Brighton dominated the midfield area in the first half as Arsenal simply could not get any rhythm or zip to their play. There was no one to receive passes from the defence and transition the team through the thirds with any menace.

His ability to glide past players and keep things ticking over in midfield was sorely missed. Arsenal’s inability to spend in January is coming back to haunt them at the most inopportune time, even if he is an irreplaceable member of this team.

Given that it wasn’t working, the decision to keep Xhaka at left-back for so long became even more puzzling. Arsenal lacked any authority or control in the centre of the park, and Sambi is still developing his game so he needed some presence alongside him.

Solutions have to be sought as European football on the whole is at risk now.

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