Brighton taking another point from Arsenal medicine for a sick man

Yesterday at 07:53 AM

Brighton versus Arsenal is always a game we look forward to in the Noble household but on this occasion, both my wife and I were ruled out of action in the sick bay.

I did not want to risk spreading my chest infection to fellow supporters, especially as we virtually sit on each other’s laps in the East Stand Upper.

Which meant the fireworks caused by my wife’s family coming from North London and being Arsenal through and through were contained to our living room.

We had a huge TV to watch the game, several packs of wine gums, Sky Sports and BBC Radio Sussex. Listening to Johnny Cantor and Warren Aspinall whilst also watching the Sky coverage means you can hear the Albion score twice thanks to the delay. And when the opposition score, you can just turn off before the second broadcast.

The Nobles may have been absent from the Amex but in our place were some distinguished guests. Prime minister Sir Keir Starmer was there alongside new England manager Thomas Tuchel.

It was by all accounts a mucky, wet evening by the time the game finished. In Mid Sussex, we had two inches of snow on the ground by 10pm. Well done to all those who were fit, well and turned out to cheer on the Albion.

Not that there appeared much to cheer early on. Arsenal pressed well and made sure Brighton were never able to get going. Bart Verbruggen made a great save from Gabriel Jesus, after the Gunners forward was allowed to run through unchallenged.

That was a precursor to the Arsenal goal, scored Ethan Nwaneri in the 16th minute. The 17-year-old did a good impression of Bukayo Saka, escaping down the right wing to cut inside and shoot. Verbruggen should have done better as the ball appeared to go straight under his body.

The Gunners taking the lead set my wife off and she spent the remainder of the first half bellowing at the TV for Arsenal to get a second goal.

I did my best to drown her out, shouting encouragement at Brighton for an equaliser in-between fits of coughing.

Amongst all that, Teddy Edward our cockapoo was going loopy. He soon showed his colours were blue and white when diving off the settee to bark at a close up of Declan Rice taking a corner.

Teddy was not the only one trying to put off Rice. The TV showed Albion supporters in the North Stand waving red cards at Rice, reminding him of his sending off earlier in the season after tangling with Joel Veltman.

Simon Adingra appeared to be listening to Teddy and myself, as he almost equalised when putting a chance wide. Adingra appeared a little off balance for what was a great opportunity.

But Arsenal remained ahead going into half time. I put the kettle on and gave Teddy a treat for his treatment of Rice.

Fabian Hurzeler meanwhile made two changes, being widely praised by pundits afterwards for his substitutions.

Georginio Rutter and Yankubu Minteh took over from Matt O’Riley and Brajan Gruda. Not long after and Kaoru Mitoma also entered the fray in place of Adingra.

Brighton were much improved in the second half, leading to a 61st minute penalty. After heading the ball away from William Saliba, Joao Pedro was fouled by the Arsenal defender.

Referee Anthony Taylor pointed to the spot and VAR confirmed the decision. Despite the bang to the head, Pedro easily beat David Raya from the spot to equalise.

The BBC Match of the Day team were in agreement afterwards that it should not have been a penalty as both players touched the ball. The decision proved a real talking point and of course, Mikel Arteta was not happy about it.

He would have been even unhappier if Brighton had found a winner. It almost came when Minteh went away down the right and crossed. Neither Yasin Ayari or Kaoru Mitoma could quite get on the end of it with the game petering out to finish 1-1.

It means the Albion’s winless run stretches to an eighth game. But if you offered Brighton fans a point from the second placed Gunners before kick off, most would have taken it.

And whilst Arteta grumbled afterwards, Arsenal playing the way they did looked far from potential Premier League champions.

Their timewasting tactics saw Nwaneri booked before half time. Mr Taylor was having none of it. He could have even flashed yellows to Rice and Jesus too.

For the sake of unity in the Noble household, a draw was probably the best result. The second half performance for Brighton proved good medicine for my chest infection ahead of a trip to the Arctic Circle next weekend!

Fingers crossed BBC Radio Sussex stretches that far north to keep tabs on the FA Cup game at Norwich.

Tony Noble@Noble1844Tony

The post Brighton taking another point from Arsenal medicine for a sick man appeared first on WeAreBrighton.com :: News & Opinion.