"Arsenal did not come to see the seaside. They were not here to make friends which was just as well. It was purely about the points. Mission: Eyes On The Prize. They accomplished it and then some. There were 78 minutes on the clock here when the travelling support got wind of Nottingham Forest's equaliser at Manchester City."
"Bukayo Saka got the goal early on it was a personal disaster for the Brighton goalkeeper, Bart Verbruggen and, thereafter, Arsenal did what they needed to do. Whatever they needed to do. Nobody manages a game quite like them. Or so the Brighton manager, Fabian Hurzeler, had suggested beforehand. Arsenal merely doubled down on their approach."
"When Arsenal has a corner and they are leading, sometimes they spend over one minute just to take it, the Brighton manager said. Arsenal have taken pot shots from their opponents for weeks. It comes with their lofty perch and, really, how they have gone about getting there this season."
Arsenal traveled to Brighton focused solely on securing three points in their pursuit of the title. Bukayo Saka scored early after a Brighton goalkeeper error, and Arsenal controlled the match through disciplined defending and tactical game management. Manager Mikel Arteta maintained his regular lineup despite fixture congestion. Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler criticized Arsenal's time-wasting tactics before the match, but Arsenal's approach proved effective. The victory extended Arsenal's league advantage to seven points, though they have played an additional game. Arsenal's defensive solidity and refusal to be drawn into Brighton's intensity demonstrated their championship mentality.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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