2 positives & 3 negatives from Arsenal's 1-1 draw at Brighton

A lack of imagination and efficiency in the final third cost Arsenal more precious points after a 1-1 draw with Brighton & Hove Albion at the Amex Stadium on Saturday evening. Academy gem Ethan Nwaneri's fine individual goal was cancelled out by a second-half penalty courtesy of Joao Pedro.

Ultimately, the Gunners lacked creative control with Martin Odegaard starting the game on the bench. It didn't help Gabriel Jesus reverted to Mr. Hyde form as the No. 9 Arsenal don't need.

Fortunately, those failings were masked during the opening 45 minutes by yet another enterprising display from Nwaneri. The 17-year-old offered a glimpse of his possible future with a coolly applied finish, but his injury now rates as a major concern.

Sadly, Nwaneri's precocious skills were also counterbalanced by another rickety performance from William Saliba. Arsenal's top defender gave away the spot-kick Pedro tucked in to make it firmly advantage Liverpool in the Premier League title race.

2 positives & 3 negatives from Arsenal's 1-1 draw at Brighton

Positive #1: Ethan Nwaneri's star turn

Thriving on the right the way Bukayo Saka does would be a tall order for any Arsenal player. So it's doubly impressive how well Nwaneri has taken to such a demanding role.

His quick thinking and clever feet meant the Gunners remained right-sided reliant, even without Saka and Odegaard in the starting XI. That reliance was rewarded when Nwaneri glided inside, much in the manner of Saka, and angled a slick finish into the bottom corner.

In the process, the teenager joined some distinguished names, and some not so much, in making Premier League history, according to OptaJoe.

What stood out most about the goal is what it might mean for Nwaneri's future. Particularly in relation to this note from Sam Dean of The Daily Telegraph describing Mikel Arteta's possible intentions for the gifted young starlet.

Finding a more centralised role in attack for Nwaneri's innate calmness and technique as a finisher could help some of the problems still plaguing the Gunners up top.

Negative #1: Ethan Nwaneri's injury

Being without Saka for the forseeable future has already put a massive dent in Arsenal's ability to change games in the most important area of the pitch. His absence makes this the worst time possible to also lose Nwaneri to injury.

The bright young thing assisted a goal during the 3-1 win over Brentford on New Year's Day, before finding the net against the Seagulls. He was replacing a decent proportion of the end product Saka usually provides.

Not only that, but Nwaneri was playing himself into undroppable territory. Simply by providing the youthful enthusiasm and skilful spark an often pedestrian Arsenal team has been missing this season.

The muscular issues Arteta revealed to the BBC (h/t Reuters) mean it's back to the drawing board, or at least the transfer window, to find a winning formula in front of goal.

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