Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta was content to escape Brighton with a goalless draw following a lacklustre display from his resurgent side at a rain-soaked Amex Stadium.
High-flying hosts Albion edged a dull Premier League encounter as the Gunners' three-match winning run was brought to an end.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang headed against the outside of a post for the visitors in the first half but chances were at a premium, with just two attempts on target at each end.
'I think it was a point gained because I don't think we deserved anything more than that,' said Arteta, whose team arrived on the south coast buoyed by last weekend's north London derby win over Tottenham.
'We did deserve the point because we defended really well the last 15 or 20 metres of our pitch.
'But in the end we never felt in control of the game and we struggled to break their press and get a good sequence of passes and impose ourselves in the final third and they made it really tough for us.'
Victory for Brighton would have moved them level on points with leaders Chelsea.
The home side registered 21 shots in total but the vast majority were wayward, with Leandro Trossard, Dan Burn and Neal Maupay failing to capitalise on decent openings.
Arteta was pleased with his centre-back partnership of Gabriel Magalhaes and Ben White, who was back in Sussex for the first time since his £50million summer transfer.
'They never played together, Gabby is still struggling with the language, and they didn't have any time to work together in pre-season,' said the Spaniard.
'They gained a really good connection, good chemistry, and I think their qualities match and complement each other really, really well and both of them were terrific.'
Brighton sit fifth with 14 points from seven games following the stalemate, with Arsenal four places and as many points further back.
But, despite dominating the game, it was a familiar tale as the Seagulls failed to make their chances count.
Manager Graham Potter told Sky Sports: 'It is what it is with the result, but the performance was fantastic from us.
'I loved our courage, our quality. It was a wonderful performance and I am really proud of the players.'
He added: 'As a coach you know that the hard bit is putting the ball in the net but we tried everything.
'The intensity was great, playing out from the back and going into a high press. Going man for man with their high quality players, it was a fantastic performance.'
Ebubechukwu1996
0
atleast his not happy with Draw like Ole did against Everton
Ebubechukwu1996
0
sack this useless coach
get lost
kacfly
1
I'm not an Arsenal fan .. but i cannot stand seeing his face
hawbdinort
1
Am a die hard Arsenal fan... I can't blame anyone there must be straight roads..curves.. bumps and so on but in Arsenal I trust we gonna make it #gunners 4 life
Alibaba2020
0
Smith Rowe was wasteful though
think before you talk man
Dosabknouy
1
Stayed up late just to watch the game..what a dissappointment..Brighton was definitely the better team..n i dont see The Gunners ending the season in the top 6..
meabelrs
0
Yes Arsenal didn't deserve a Manager like Arteta. Bow long must we wait for a better change. We cannot carryon the procsss with Arteta.
The process has already begun, starting with the defence. Consistent back four now, the midfield is also ok. It's the attacking 😖. If auba and pepe can find their on switch( I pray they do soon) we would be unstoppable. we need ppl to finish the efforts of saka, ESR, øde, tierney and partey, these five are out best chance creators(Gabriel and white are also really good at passing). Martinelli should up his game
meabelrs
2
There is no way we could make the top6 this season, yes, because the team is still growing you numbskull. Why would you expect signings of 21-23 year olds to take us to the UCL. Obviously we bought them so we could rebuild from scratch. The morale in arsenal had to be raised, no space for slackers, that's why hardworking young talents had to be brought in, to inspire others. You can already see someone like ødegaard, white and ramsdale are really good influencers(the ones on the bench are also good)on the team's morale, added to the other likes of saka, ESR, partey, tierney and gabriel. We need the senior players to add to this and so far I oy see partey and xhaka doing that, Laca is also a good influencer and I feel arteta should give him a couple more chances than auba and pepe
meabelrs
0
can't blame arteta for this match , we didn't play well. They pressed us out of position and we couldn't string 2 passes together. Remember its the same team as last week minus Xhaka.
Now y'all see how important xhaka is for us
Cesbou
0
Honestly, Arteta has assembled a mid table team. There is no way they could make the top 6 ( hope I am wrong). But I believed Arteta should leave. He is cancerous and the team will not improve with him at the manager.
This guys think we have oil money. Unfortunately we have stingy American that only can buy mediocre players. Instead of quality we choose quantity with the transfer kitty.
huxex
0
the Arsenal board is average so they hired an average coach with average wages, the average coach true to his average experience bought average players for average performance and obviously will be glad with an averageid table standing
all these is fault of the board....
Sunceopsyz
1
Smith Rowe was wasteful though
vuacdklpyz
1
the Arsenal board is average so they hired an average coach with average wages, the average coach true to his average experience bought average players for average performance and obviously will be glad with an averageid table standing
dong10
2
can't blame arteta for this match , we didn't play well. They pressed us out of position and we couldn't string 2 passes together. Remember its the same team as last week minus Xhaka.
dong10
0
Honestly, Arteta has assembled a mid table team. There is no way they could make the top 6 ( hope I am wrong). But I believed Arteta should leave. He is cancerous and the team will not improve with him at the manager.
why didn't you say this last week. . .because its the same team minus xhaka
Pobactuz
0
Honestly, Arteta has assembled a mid table team. There is no way they could make the top 6 ( hope I am wrong). But I believed Arteta should leave. He is cancerous and the team will not improve with him at the manager.
Arsenal will remain in the 10 positions unless Arteta is replace.
Pobactuz
0
Yes Arsenal didn't deserve a Manager like Arteta. Bow long must we wait for a better change. We cannot carryon the procsss with Arteta.
Thankyou. At least you commended me as a Professional commentator.
Pobactuz
2
Arsenal have 3 home and 1 away game in Oct. Looking at Arteta handling Arsenal sadly there will be no winning game.
Hazazi92
0
Honestly, Arteta has assembled a mid table team. There is no way they could make the top 6 ( hope I am wrong). But I believed Arteta should leave. He is cancerous and the team will not improve with him at the manager.
I bet u r one of the people who asked for Unai and Wenger to leave
fuubmnrsz
0
sell the likes of Pepe and Auba. they are heavy weights
Racacdmyz
0
sack this useless coach
he's better than you
Kacdinotuy
1
sack him
rubmstuyz
0
Honestly, Arteta has assembled a mid table team. There is no way they could make the top 6 ( hope I am wrong). But I believed Arteta should leave. He is cancerous and the team will not improve with him at the manager.
Lol...
Kacdinotuy
1
sack this useless coach
Bohdenoz
1
Confused fans last time Arsenal beat Tottenham as third game we should have sack Arteta by then... Forgetting players are human as well as if its only arsenal lost there match...
Criticaldamage
0
Honestly, Arteta has assembled a mid table team. There is no way they could make the top 6 ( hope I am wrong). But I believed Arteta should leave. He is cancerous and the team will not improve with him at the manager.
Lol..
Charlesugwu
4
Why would anyone blame Arteta so quickly after this match? Because they beat Tottenham, everyone thinks they will easily roll over Brighton. Brighton is doing well so far for Christ sake. From all the statistics, they ought to have beaten Arsenal today. They should be the one crying not Arsenal
lubilru
1
Honestly, Arteta has assembled a mid table team. There is no way they could make the top 6 ( hope I am wrong). But I believed Arteta should leave. He is cancerous and the team will not improve with him at the manager.
Lekdlor
3
At times i wonder why Arsenal board are still not doing anything about arteta and edu
koncirsy
5
I'm tired of Arteta now,
bakeistu
1
Yes Arsenal didn't deserve a Manager like Arteta. Bow long must we wait for a better change. We cannot carryon the procsss with Arteta.
Shut ye up, Professional Commenter
Ndorbor
1
me checking to see how many shots Arsenal had on target today.
Ndorbor
1
me checking to see how many shots Arsenal had on target today.
Pobactuz
1
Yes Arsenal didn't deserve a Manager like Arteta. Bow long must we wait for a better change. We cannot carryon the procsss with Arteta.
Ebubechukwu1996
0
Ole would be happy for that draw
Messi_is_Goat
1
Maybe the Gun didn't work today🤣😂🤣🤣
GeneralME
0
Your damn fault, can't assemble a scoring team.