Brighton HAFC 0 Arsenal 0
The cliche of the sum of the parts is less/more than the total applies to the performance of both teams.
Arsenal had the greater talent, Albion the greater application.
The battle was fought out in midfield. Arsenal deployed Thomas Partay alongside Sambi with the more gilded Smith-Rowe, Odergard and Saka ahead of them.
The Seagull midfield five were Joel Veltman, Jacob Moder, Adam Lallana, Pascal Gross and Cucurella.
In old-fashioned parlance they got stuck in.
There is a stat reckoner much used nowadays which I don’t understand called “gx”.
I prefer the old lingo of not taking chances. Albion created more and better ones but, as ever, failed to convert.
I lost count of the times when a ball flashed across the goal or a set-piece header was wide. Arsenal had much fewer chances and the Brighton back three and keeper Sanchez were always in command to deal with the few that came their way.
Arsenal fans can derive hope that theirs is a young side most under 25. Brighton have the pulse of the team – the talented Yves Bissouma and Tariq Lamprey – to return.
They must be satisfied with their fifth position.
It was a filthy night of driving rain and gusty wind.
As I waited for my Arsenal pal I saw bedraggled fans soaked to the skin enter. This said, there is something about a live match which I have missed.
I spent a stressful hour downloading the double vaccination certificate to the NHS app but was never asked to show it.
In his double-page column, mainly containing his views on Brighton results, chief executive Paul Barber explained they were anticipating tighter regulations in October.
With so much uncertainty as to the existing regulations it’s a brave person who anticipates. Besides – on the walkway to the station – the fans were totally compressed and there was no social distancing whatsoever.
Much credit must go to head coach Graham Potter. He is without five of his key players from last season- Lamptey, Adam Webster, Ben White and Solly March and now Yves Bissouma. Danny Welbeck and Steven Alzate have joined the injury list but his is not an excuse making approach more we -are- where-we- are and his replacements have performed capably.
