Arsenal will head into the international break licking their wounds after suffering a 3-0 defeat to Brighton on Saturday afternoon in the Premier League
Arsenal's unbeaten start to the season came to an abrupt end on Saturday as they were defeated by Brighton. Gunners fans will have to stew on that for three weeks as the Premier League goes on hiatus for an extended international break.
Mikel Arteta's side had begun their Premier League title defence perfectly, winning their first four top-flight games against Coventry City, Aston Villa, Chelsea and Sunderland. They also downed Napoli in the Champions League and eased past Ipswich Town in the Carabao Cup third round.
However, their trip to the South Coast ended in disaster as their nine-match league win streak was snapped. Goals from Pascal Gross, Charalampos Kostoulas and Chema Andres condemned Arsenal to a 3-0 defeat at the Amex.
Arteta will now have some time to digest the club's first loss of the season, but in the immediate aftermath, he pointed the finger at his players. A Gunners legend has also hit out at Bruno Guimaraes as Mirror Football brings you all the latest from the Emirates.
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Mikel Arteta's finger pointing
Before Saturday, Arsenal hadn't conceded three goals in a game since a December 2023 4-3 victory over Luton Town. Arteta blamed his players after the Brighton match, claiming they were error-ridden.
He said: "Brighton deserved to win the game. We didn't do the basics right for long periods, especially in the first half. We didn't win enough duels and any second balls and that stretches you. With the errors that we made and especially with the principles we didn't apply against a team that wants to press you.
"So that puts us constantly under pressure and didn't get out of that in the way we normally do. So a lot of things to learn and take, but ultimately disappointed."
Paul Merson critiques Bruno Guimaraes
Summer signing Guimaraes started next to Declan Rice in the heart of midfield against Brighton, but endured a torrid time of things. He was replaced after 60 minutes by Mikel Merino and admitted post-match that it was a bad day at the office.
Paul Merson, a Sky Sports pundit who played 423 games for the Gunners between 1985 and 1997, pulled no punches with his assessment of the £75million man. He said: "A million miles off it. I said at half-time he would come off, but he's stayed on for another 10 minutes or so. It was really quick for him. They closed him down.
"I don't care how good you are. If people get your head down and close you down and make you work, it's a leveller and that's what Brighton have done. They have been absolutely brilliant."
Guimaraes partnered Rice for the entirety of the second half during Arsenal's previous Premier League clash against Sunderland. Arteta pointed to this 2-0 success when assessing why the midfield change did not work.
"It worked extremely well when we played Sunderland away," he said. "Today, it didn't work for a lot of things that happened as well behind them to make sure that they could play a completely different game. That's something that will surely evolve. It's in its early stages. They only play together a few minutes and that relationship will for sure improve and give us a lot of joy."
Wibaceilmo
1
starting kai over victor is the biggest problem arterta giving the team we use the best then the rest should follow,kai is lazy, very lazy and he doesn't for ball,so means he doesn't give problems to the opponent
taeabikouy
0
Make Una sha buy player for January
Yuccdmstz
0
Kai Harvtz and Saka should be benched
Litelntz
0
pressure of back 2 back taking it's toll after 5matches in Mr.complaining arteta is back lol
bahaemnor
0
It should work when Guimaraes understands he is not Rice and should play his own role not wanting to play like Rice. But why did you change a wining team by dropping Lewis Skelly? You just wanted to show you can play anyhow you like? Now you know! You are not the owner of EPL.
dropping Ben White and MLS was crazy
kisilah
0
saka is currently out of form. rice needs roration to also rest.
Demaciklmt
0
Wish you the best Jesus, you remain close to our hearts
diuimnprsz
0
Saka out of form
diuimnprsz
1
Salary is out of form and at times he is selfish...
Coboryz
0
Arteta's methedology... Keeper ok, Defence ok, midfield ok, if we not concede a goal ok. For the entire 90 minutes atleast we get 2 or 3 chances. And if we convert one or two, it's ok we will win. That is the formula. If midfield fails entire team fails. Without strengthening the forwards you definitely won't be champions.
kauaprty
1
stop using haverts as remaining striker
tacblmnoz
0
from Namibia: Ateta? you were not supposed to replace saka. you were supposed to change Tizoli from left wing to the gikoris position.then Lewis skery to his position.than remove odigaard, cause was weak.then Eze to the left wing.
from ondangwa, Namibia
resabekpst
2
Havertz is a very smart and high IQ player, he do some smart work which usually go unnoticed but I admire the fact that he’s smart and technically brilliant
Havertz is a very intelligent player definitely, his languid style makes him look disinterested. People don’t look at what he adds to our team plus he always turns up for big games. He never hides.
Zawcelty
0
first star rice and lewy skely or rice and zubimend🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
Zawcelty
1
not star guimares and rice pleas
Cinekpruz
5
selling matnelin and trousard at the same time is not good enough
resabekpst
2
I agree 👍. However , Arteta has some what become a victim of his own tactical brilliance. To me it's no wonder that some of our players are the ones bearing the graunt of his ingenious tactical acumen making them lost while looking exactly an average players. He's just like his mentor, Pep who messes things up for himself due to his sagacious tactical display on the field of play.
You speak really well and make sense, in Arteta’s system every player has got to do the work offensively and defensively which Arteta has worked for in training. We are like a well oiled machine when we achieve the shape and level from the players, we have got little allowances for players not fulfilling their duties, and our performance level can drop alarmingly. Saturday was a performance on a level i’ve seldom seen from an Arsenal team under Arteta.
kisadknst
2
Havertz is a very smart and high IQ player, he do some smart work which usually go unnoticed but I admire the fact that he’s smart and technically brilliant
You are right,, the problem with him is how languidly he walks the pitch and switches off for the most part of game is so alarming for his tactical brilliance.
Vieaeklmtz
1
You are still in top 2, No worries
Tumknoprt
1
main problem is our striker is worst in EPL every season 🙄 😒
kisadknst
2
I accept that he looks languid and slow, but he also reached the fastest speed of Arsenal players and covered the most distant. He isn’t a natural No9 obviously but Gyrolokes has been awful and Merino would be my preference as a replacement for him.
I agree 👍. However , Arteta has some what become a victim of his own tactical brilliance. To me it's no wonder that some of our players are the ones bearing the graunt of his ingenious tactical acumen making them lost while looking exactly an average players. He's just like his mentor, Pep who messes things up for himself due to his sagacious tactical display on the field of play.
Pocabemopz
0
really you sound like a 8er
Pocabemopz
1
Saka needs to go back home to his parents house from him move out I don't see him playing well guess him puss whip can't concentrate
Pocabemopz
1
I have been saying that from he stepped into gunners camp sell him buy Endrick
weymoprty
1
Arteta, kai was the problem playing with kai automatically is one man Dow cause kai is too lazy
Havertz is a very smart and high IQ player, he do some smart work which usually go unnoticed but I admire the fact that he’s smart and technically brilliant
kisadknst
2
Arteta was a victim of his own ingenious tactical display on Saturday against Brighton. Just like his mentor, Pep, who sometimes messes everything up due to his sagacious accumen tendency.
Yewemotyz
2
For me I wanted us to be beaten in order to understand where it leaks so that we fix as soonest.
kisadknst
0
It should work when Guimaraes understands he is not Rice and should play his own role not wanting to play like Rice. But why did you change a wining team by dropping Lewis Skelly? You just wanted to show you can play anyhow you like? Now you know! You are not the owner of EPL.
Arteta was a victim of his own ingenious tactical display on Saturday. Just like his mentor, who sometimes messes everything up due to his sagacious accumen.
resabekpst
3
You are right 👍 as always he was literally walking flat-footed in the last third of the pitch unalert as if he's strolling in his backyard to catch fresh air. Kai is a one game wonder player.
I accept that he looks languid and slow, but he also reached the fastest speed of Arsenal players and covered the most distant. He isn’t a natural No9 obviously but Gyrolokes has been awful and Merino would be my preference as a replacement for him.
kisadknst
2
Arteta, kai was the problem playing with kai automatically is one man Dow cause kai is too lazy
You are right 👍 as always he was literally walking flat-footed in the last third of the pitch unalert as if he's strolling in his backyard to catch fresh air. Kai is a one game wonder player.
kisadknst
0
He actually covered more ground than any Arsenal player, check it out.
covered more ground walking flat-footed and unalert right?
resabekpst
2
he's a complete liability
He definitely was on Saturday, he is one dimensional going sideways and not forwards..
resabekpst
2
Arteta, kai was the problem playing with kai automatically is one man Dow cause kai is too lazy
He actually covered more ground than any Arsenal player, check it out.
resabekpst
5
Arteta isn’t calling Guimaraes it’s Merson doing that. He never names players who have not been at the standard required. He selected the X1 starters and non performed to their level, he told the truth about the game. It’s gone we learn and move on. Merson is the critic naming Guimaraes but he forgot the other ten players.
Juaacnpuz
3
Arteta, kai was the problem playing with kai automatically is one man Dow cause kai is too lazy
idowucharles
0
Lol 😂 you are all going to suffer
Betram10
0
I would point fingers to Odegaard because, starting Gyokeres over Haverts makes it even worse
at*
Betram10
0
harvetz start must end, he's behind our loose of points in every season
I would point fingers to Odegaard because, starting Gyokeres over Haverts makes it even worse
Betram10
1
honestly, Havertz is not supposed to be arsenal main striker. for a team that want to defend the league. i strongly believe that arsenal will defend the league this season but it will be more easy if they have a better striker like oshinme. arsenal supposed to make a statement signing in that attack before going into the new season
sup broh,I got you but...starting Gyokeres over Haverts make it even worse
Betram10
0
I'm in Namibia too,but speaking about Odegaard really make you speak my language, he's a complete lia
he's a complete liability
Betram10
0
from Namibia: Ateta? you were not supposed to replace saka. you were supposed to change Tizoli from left wing to the gikoris position.then Lewis skery to his position.than remove odigaard, cause was weak.then Eze to the left wing.
I'm in Namibia too,but speaking about Odegaard really make you speak my language, he's a complete lia
Doaekprt
0
from Namibia: Ateta? you were not supposed to replace saka. you were supposed to change Tizoli from left wing to the gikoris position.then Lewis skery to his position.than remove odigaard, cause was weak.then Eze to the left wing.
mutcilmrst
0
continue you will suffer
Jamadinors
1
It should work when Guimaraes understands he is not Rice and should play his own role not wanting to play like Rice. But why did you change a wining team by dropping Lewis Skelly? You just wanted to show you can play anyhow you like? Now you know! You are not the owner of EPL.
waaabcdeno
0
back to back
kaacikpt
2
Eze, Maduke, gyokeres, havertz - all need to leave. Arsenal show have not let martinelli go. Trossard was great but he was 30-31 so I understand The current starter line up is no bueno.Merino needs to start with rice
AbSixers
1
harvetz start must end, he's behind our loose of points in every season
honestly, Havertz is not supposed to be arsenal main striker. for a team that want to defend the league. i strongly believe that arsenal will defend the league this season but it will be more easy if they have a better striker like oshinme. arsenal supposed to make a statement signing in that attack before going into the new season
Tiucdiprtz
0
stop that enjoys too muchó. ymo. 68
nukcklprt
1
we asked you to bering Victor Osimhen to Arsenal front line, but you kept quiet.
voddeprt
6
harvetz start must end, he's behind our loose of points in every season