Following today’s clash between Brighton and Arsenal, here are the instant reactions from both managers.
Brighton hosted Arsenal at the Amex Stadium on Sunday March 4, with this hosts taking a two one victory on the day.
Having braved the snow and conditions, Lewis Dunk gave Brighton a seventh minute lead in the game and Glenn Murray doubled that lead midway through the half.
Arsenal did respond through Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang two minutes before half time, but despite dominating possession and having slightly more chances in the game, they couldn’t tie the game up and Brighton took a very valuable victory as they bid to stay away from the dropzone.
Brighton also took a first victory since 1982 over Arsenal to only increase the pressure on the Frenchman as they fall to four losses on the spin – the first time they have done that since October 2002 where they lost to Everton, Auxerre, Blackburn and Borussia Dortmund.
Teams:
Brighton:
Ryan, Schelotto (Bruno 69), Duffy, Dunk, Bong, Knockaert (March 77), Stephens, Propper, Izquierdo, Gross (Kayal 87), Murray.
Substitutes:
Ulloa, Goldson, Locadia, Krul.
Arsenal:
Cech, Chambers (Nketiah 83), Mustafi, Koscielny, Kolasinac, Wilshere, Xhaka, Mkhitaryan (Bellerin 83), Ozil, Iwobi (Welbeck 74), Aubameyang.
Substitutes:
Ospina, Holding, Maitland-Niles, El Neny.
Speaking to the BBC’s cameras a short time after match day referee Stuart Attwell blew the final whistle, Brighton manager Chris Hughton explained.
‘We are in good form. My biggest disappointment of the game was conceding just before half time because at any level that gives the opponent a lift going into the second half. The fact we got the two goals early gave us that buffer that we could hang onto but over the 90 minutes I felt we were very worthy winners. Our intent at the beginning of the game was very good. No complaints with that first half except the goal we conceded before half time. And then we showed the other side of our game – the ugly side – and you need that.’
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger in his comparative interview explained.
‘We find it’s always difficult to go into individual considerations. We have to get over this period, recover mentally and physically and we have another game on Thursday against AC Milan and then on Sunday. It’s the first time its happened in my whole career and it’s not easy. I have enough experience and desire to turn things around. When the team struggles for confidence it’s even more difficult.’
