Fabian Hurzeler was the first to blame Arsenal for their poor win against Brighton & Hove Albion. He emphasized that the Gunners performance was not football as he understood it. But Mikel Arteta won’t care. After all, it was a ball that could only be understood by a champion.
At this stage of the season, with only eight games remaining for Arsenal, beauty means nothing. Results mattered and as Manchester City demolished Nottingham Forest, the Premier League leaders stood firm under pressure at the Amex.
Despite the Gunners remaining seven points clear, however, it was yet another difficult night for Viktor Gyokeres, who is becoming increasingly frustrating to watch in an Arsenal shirt.
Gyokeres’ tension has become a problem for Arsenal
After falling prey to Tottenham Hotspur’s presence a week and a half ago, Gyokeres seems to have eased concerns about his starting place under Arteta.
He was a powerful, clinical coach who Arsenal believe will spend £63.5m in the summer to reach his 10 Premier League goals this season.
However, after one week, it is back to the original state. The Swedish player did not put a glove on Brighton’s backline and it is clear that he is not a player who will work himself in the games. When his colleagues struggled, Gyokeres was kept very quiet in his first campaign.
At the Amex, the big-money striker was duly arrested by Kai Havertz just before the hour mark after just three touches in the Brighton box and not winning a single one of his eight trophies. It was a lackluster display when Arsenal needed a tough, smart player to catch Havertz who he was on the road.
It would be hard to pin Arsenal’s attacking struggles on the striker alone, though. Once again, the Gunners were left with nothing but a return to their defensive record.
The Arsenal star has shown why he should be sold after Brighton
There have been many good things at the Emirates since Andrea Berta arrived. The sporting director spent a fair amount of money last summer and has Arsenal in contention for the title as a result.
Alas, all the sporting director has to do is solve the Gunners’ sales problem. Their biggest sale is still Folarin Balogun, who left AS Monaco for £35m in 2023.
Arsenal’s most expensive sale of all time
Looking at the departure of the Gunners’ record in their history.
That has to change and it has to start with the sale of Gabriel Martinelli this summer. The display of Brighton in Brazil should be the last for Berta and after losing his first place, he can go on his own.
|
Gabriel Martinelli vs Brighton |
Mathematics |
|---|---|
|
Minutes |
60 |
|
Passes |
3 |
|
Dribbles |
0/2 |
|
Touch in the objection box |
1 |
Gyokeres’ struggles at Brighton start to make sense when we look closely at those around him. Martinelli completed just three passes in the 60 minutes he played and failed to complete a single dribble. It didn’t work as he worked most of the campaign.
Now it’s time for those in North London to cash in and finally make a profit from one of their struggling stars. The wide man is still only 24-years-old and could still leave in a big-money deal, opening up room for rapid development at the Emirates.
Given that Leandro Trossard is still 31 years old, that left side could be a problem for Arsenal if they are not careful. And it’s not something Martinelli looks likely to solve.
Reportedly worth around £51m, the recent sale and subsequent additions to long-term development at the property should be among Berta’s priorities this summer.
He’s a monster: Arsenal look like they’ve signed a Rice & Gabriel hybrid
Arsenal were brilliant defensively as they beat Brighton 1-0 on Wednesday night.
