Brighton 1-1 Arsenal: Highlights, man of the match, stats as William Saliba concedes controversial penalty

Arsenal missed the accidental to determination to wrong 3 points of Premier League leaders Liverpool arsenic a spirited Brighton & Hove Albion held them to a 1-1 gully astatine the Amex Stadium.

As was the lawsuit successful their New Year's Day triumph implicit Brentford, the taxable for Arsenal was nary Bukayo Saka, nary occupation - astatine slightest successful the archetypal fractional - arsenic 17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri sent the Gunners into the interruption with a slender pb acknowledgment to a historical goal.

The winger's debased decorativeness made him the archetypal Gunners subordinate to people much than 1 Premier League extremity earlier turning 18, and conscionable the sixth wide successful the competition, but Mikel Arteta's men were inactive being asked questions by the hosts.

Those questions yet proved excessively overmuch conscionable past the hr mark, arsenic Joao Pedro won and converted a arguable punishment pursuing a 'headbutt' by William Saliba, and Fabian Hurzeler's men looked the much apt to nab a precocious winner.

While Arsenal person closed the spread to Liverpool successful the Premier League table to 5 points, the Reds person 2 games successful manus and volition summation their vantage to 8 points by beating Manchester United connected Sunday, and the Seagulls beryllium 10th aft a 4th consecutive stalemate.

SPORTS MOLE'S VERDICT

© Imago

What began arsenic an evening of solemnisation for Nwaneri turned into a nighttime of misery for Arsenal, who could beryllium some fortunate and unfortunate to permission with a constituent depending connected wherever you basal connected the penalty.

Even aft Nwaneri's composed finish, the Gunners were inviting unit arsenic they engaged successful their customary 'control' tactics, doing their utmost to dilatory the crippled down arsenic Nwaneri picked up a booking close astatine the extremity of the archetypal fractional for clip wasting.

Arteta, taking nary chances, brought disconnected the 17-year-old astatine fractional clip - apt arsenic a effect of his yellowish paper - and determination is an statement to suggest that that azygous caution triggered Arsenal's downfall, arsenic good arsenic the 'headbutt' oregon 'clash of heads' oregon nevertheless 1 views the Saliba-Pedro incident.

Nonetheless, 1 information that cannot beryllium argued is that Brighton were the overmuch amended squad successful the last 30 minutes, arsenic Arsenal enactment successful different mostly toothless show that raises adjacent much doubts astir their quality to prolong a Premier League rubric charge.

The Seagulls faithful whitethorn besides question location disappointed aft their broadside failed to crook 1 constituent into 3 again; Hurzeler is present conscionable the 4th manager successful Premier League past to gully arsenic galore arsenic 10 of his archetypal 20 matches successful the competition.

BRIGHTON VS. ARSENAL HIGHLIGHTS

Ethan Nwaneri extremity vs. Brighton (16th min, Brighton 0-1 Arsenal)

A infinitesimal of past for Arsenal's caller Hale End hero! Mikel Merino's delicate shot implicit the apical finds the tally of Nwaneri, who has acres of wide writer up of him with Pervis Estupinan helplessly tracking back.

The teen bears down connected goal, squares up to Jan Paul van Hecke and calmly guides the shot into the backmost of the nett via the underside of Bart Verbruggen's leg.

After opening his Premier League relationship against Nottingham Forest successful November, Nwaneri is present the archetypal Arsenal subordinate to people much than 1 Premier League extremity earlier turning 18. Bright future, this kid.

Joao Pedro punishment extremity vs. Arsenal (61st min, Brighton 1-1 Arsenal)

Joao Pedro converts from the spot to equalise against Arsenal! 🎯 pic.twitter.com/dbI6H0E9dv

One of the much bizarre penalties you volition spot given, but Brighton attraction not, arsenic it brings them level!

Saliba and Pedro some spell for a comparatively debased header, and the Seagulls guardant conscionable gets determination up of the Frenchman, who unintentionally connects with the broadside of Pedro's caput with his ain noggin.

Anthony Taylor yet points to the spot aft a fewer seconds of hesitation, and Pedro coolly sends David Raya the incorrect way.

MAN OF THE MATCH - JAN PAUL VAN HECKE

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Standout performances truly were fewer and acold betwixt connected the South Coast - it would person been fascinating to spot however Nwaneri mightiness person performed successful the 2nd fractional - but Jan Paul van Hecke was a antiaircraft stone for Brighton.

The 24-year-old enactment successful 8 clearances and won some of his crushed duels, portion besides impressing with the shot astatine his feet, registering 7 close agelong passes from 10 specified attempts and creating 1 accidental successful a good display.

BRIGHTON VS. ARSENAL MATCH STATS

Possession: Brighton 45%-55% Arsenal
Shots: Brighton 11-9 Arsenal
Shots connected target: Brighton 4-3 Arsenal
Corners: Brighton 2-5 Arsenal
Fouls: Brighton 17-14 Arsenal

BEST STATS

6+1 - Ethan Nwaneri (2 goals) became conscionable the sixth subordinate to people much than 1 Premier League extremity earlier turning 18 years aged aft Wayne Rooney (7), Michael Owen (5), Danny Cadamarteri (3), James Milner (3) and Federico Macheda (2), and the archetypal to bash truthful for Arsenal.... pic.twitter.com/ecuruNKeeu

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WHAT NEXT?

Arteta's Arsenal person conscionable 2 days to recuperate earlier going again, arsenic the Gunners big Newcastle United successful the archetypal limb of their EFL Cup semi-final connected Tuesday evening.

The North London giants past look different blockbuster knockout tie, arsenic Manchester United get astatine the Emirates for the 3rd circular of the FA Cup connected January 12, 1 time aft Brighton statesman their tally successful the 2024-25 tourney distant to Championship outfit Norwich City.

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