[Albion] Brighton & Hove Albion vs Arsenal *** Official Match Thread ***

[Justice]

I really can't understand how people can think that was a pen. Lamptey played the ball and got the ball.

Yep my mate a Wolves fan was livid with that decision straight away said our clubs aren’t getting that

 

[dwayne]

Plus Ferguson and Hinshelwood at their best, and the confidence and momentum that we did have .

Ferguson has had one good game this season.

 

[birthofanorange]

Something has changed, and it seems to have done so when this speculation about him getting a better job reached its crescendo...

I expected us to lose, I even got it right in the NSC predictor for once. I also expected us to actually put up a fight and not roll over and lube up for them. That was as comfortable a game as they'll have all season.

Maybe that has had an effect on the team - Christ, it seems to have triggered a lot on here, for sure.
As for putting up a fight: we did, today, but they were simply better than us.

 

[Mancgull]

Something has changed, and it seems to have done so when this speculation about him getting a better job reached its crescendo...

I expected us to lose, I even got it right in the NSC predictor for once. I also expected us to actually put up a fight and not roll over and lube up for them. That was as comfortable a game as they'll have all season.

We were certainly in it first half but Arsenal’s intensity at closing down the gaps in midfield was so impressive. I haven’t seen a team play against us with that level of intensity for over a year.
They are the best team I’ve seen us play against this season. Better than Liverpool and Man City.
I actually thought we did ok for the first 60/65 minutes but they just gave us no space.
Yes, we are off last season’s standards but margins are small at this level and what I saw throughout was that we kept playing ‘our way’.
I really struggle with the mentality of some of our so called fans who turn on the team when they struggle against a team put together with significantly higher resources.
I’ll be at Burnley next week wanting a win and if we can get one a top ten finish shouldn’t be out of our reach.

 

[raymondo]

Ferguson has had one good game this season.

Yes, that was the one, at his best

 

[Hometownglory]

Well I don't think we need to worry about RDZ getting poached judging by our current form and our remaining fixtures.

 

[brighton_tom]

Mitoma and March might have made a difference, plus a fully fit Pedro, but that's about it.

& gilmour

Even if you ignore the other few we’re missing I think some after forgetting just how much a hit not having even those 4 is. We are not a City, Liverpool, or Arsenal with huge strength in depth. Arsenal would have likely still won anyway, they are top of the league after all, but so many after complaining at a drop in quality while conveniently ignoring where that quality is (the injury list).

For example do you think West Ham would be at their best if you took Kudus, Bowen, Antonio, & Paqueta away? Obviously not and understandably so. For team like them and us, you take away even 4 or 5 players and it’s such a hit.

 

[Beach Hut]

were loose

Very correct, Dear Friend

 

[BluesRockDJ]

Not sour grapes, but I thought a player area , why was not a feigning injury (White) was a sending off offence, ie falling to the ground seconds after being 'fouled' ?
Also we took a corner and the ref blows for something in the area, no free kick given.......why ?

 

[dejavuatbtn]

For Christ sake give Gross a rest against Burnley. If we can’t beat them without him we may as well give up. He looks exhausted.

Didn’t even have the strength to beat the first defender from his corners. He’s looked knackered for weeks and is being overplayed. I get the impression that RDZ can’t implement his plan without him. Give the guy a rest and come up with a new plan - perhaps a midfielder playing forward a tad.

 

[deletebeepbeepbeep]

We will do well to finish top 10 now and have been dire for months.

 

[Steve in Japan]

I really can't understand how people can think that was a pen. Lamptey played the ball and got the ball.

I think it's time to let this go. We lost 0-3 and arguably were lucky it wasn't 5 or 6.

 

[hart's shirt]

Roberto de Zerbi

"The effort was good, good enough to decide this game. We played a good first half, until the second goal we were in the game and then finish."

"This moment without a lot of important players it is tough to create a chance to score."

"We played against Arsenal and they are top of the table. Especially in this condition then we can lose against Arsenal at home. We are sorry for ourselves and our fans."

"Maybe we will not close the gap, I don't know. This gap to close with Liverpool and Arsenal we are not in the condition to close this gap, especially with all our injured players."

"I don't know what the club wants to do [in the future]. My problem is on the pitch, to improve my players and my team. The other things are not my business."

 

[Littlemo]

Mixed feelings really, Arsenal are obviously a decent team but we’ve lacked cutting edge for a while and the past few games we’ve gone down another level, like our passing game has gone missing and we seem to be more reluctant to go forward.

I think the we just have to accept this as a transitional season, a lot of our players are getting some great experience and will be all the better for it next year, making us much stronger. It’s just kind of a shame that we aren’t yet making a better ending to this season.

I think long-term the future still looks bright but I hope that both RDZ and the fans can see that. I worry that RDZ especially doesn’t seem to look all that far ahead or feel that we are building players to do better next year, instead he is focused on buying players for the now and the ones he’s wants are probably quite expensive.

 

[willalbion]

They were better than us. We lost.

 

[martin tyler]

It’s a 3 horse title race for a reason tbh. All 3 have top players suited to the way they play. Arsenal were far more athletic, strong and speedy across the pitch in general. Saliba and Gabriel are top quality CBs. They played really well and deserve 3 points. They shut out Man City fairly comfortably a week or so back and beat Liverpool as well in February. They have a CM who cost more than our starting 11. Realistically they are probably the worst of the top 3 for us to play based on how we play and how well drilled they are with all there obvious strengths.

 

[BLOCK F]

Watched at home.
Acceptable first half, but second half was pedestrian and quite frankly, although Arsenal were a much more accomplished team than us, it looked a bit like a case of ‘cba’all round. Management and players.

 

[birthofanorange]

Chelsea go above us with 2 games in hand without even playing.

Newcastle and West Ham win.

It's been a terrible afternoon as far as European hopes.

I blame @Simster

 

[raymondo]

We were certainly in it first half but Arsenal’s intensity at closing down the gaps in midfield was so impressive. I haven’t seen a team play against us with that level of intensity for over a year.
They are the best team I’ve seen us play against this season. Better than Liverpool and Man City.
I actually thought we did ok for the first 60/65 minutes but they just gave us no space.
Yes, we are off last season’s standards but margins are small at this level and what I saw throughout was that we kept playing ‘our way’.
I really struggle with the mentality of some of our so called fans who turn on the team when they struggle against a team put together with significantly higher resources.
I’ll be at Burnley next week wanting a win and if we can get one a top ten finish shouldn’t be out of our reach.

I too thought Arsenal's intense press was very good and won the game for them - we had little time or space.
I know we kept playing 'our way ' I just wish we had more than one way, but we're severely hampered without Mitoma and March.

 

[Weststander]

Once Mitoma was injured all European hopes went with it.

We were never in a month of Sunday’s going to win the EL. It was lovely whilst it lasted, especially for those who boozed round some amazing cities.