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

Positive #2: More end product for Mikel Merino

Waiting for Mikel Merino to make the grade at Arsenal is like patiently tracking baby steps. That means treating even small contributions as big moments worthy of celebrations.

There was cause for celebration when Merino chipped a neat and clever pass to send Nwaneri clear to score. The assist represented a second goal action in as many games for the former Real Sociedad midfielder, who opened his league account against the Bees.

Making a nuisance of himself in the air in the opposition box was the main selling point when Arteta signed Merino. In some ways it made sense, given Arsenal's fondness for aerial dominance from set-pieces.

Yet in other ways, the one-dimensional aspect of Merino's game is a problem. He's not the Spain international midfielder audiences have gotten used to for most of the last two decades.

Merino's no maestro in the middle of the park, winning via technique and vision. Those things may come if this assist is anything to judge. In the meantime, the Gunners will have to be content with Merino's scrappy effectiveness showing up more and more.

Negative #2: Gabriel Jesus took one step back

His recent goalscoring revival needed to continue, but Jesus appeared off the pace from the start. He was punished for some sluggish movement by the offside flag, even though his finish when one-on-one was also wayward

Staying onside became a repeating issue for the Brazilian. So did finding his range, both in terms of passing and shooting, whenever he received the ball in and around the box.

Just as costly was the absence of any of those dynamic, wriggling runs through traffic that vividly personify Jesus at his best. The striker's best form is something Arsenal need, and not just while Kai Havertz gets over illness, but beyond the German's return.

Jesus staying in the goals can give Arteta's side the extra edge in attack lacking too often this season. Frustrations against Brighton are what this Arsenal team looks like when the main man through the middle is out of sorts.

Negative #3: William Saliba falters again

Whisper it, but William Saliba is beginning to border on becoming shaky. The Frenchman was unfortunate to be shown up by referee Anthony Taylor and the so-called exactitude of VAR, but those factors don't completely absolve Saliba from culpability in Brighton's equaliser.

His attempt to head clear Pedro's flick was mistimed and clumsy. With some luck, Saliba might have gotten away with it, but the 23-year-old is finding his mistakes usually come with instant punishment.

Avoiding any further sudden calamities should be Saliba's priority moving forward. He'll need to be solid as a rock to help compensate for a forward line ravaged by injuries and inconsistent form.

Those flaws will make it difficult for Arsenal to catch Liverpool if the latter widen the gap at the top of the table.

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