Premier League 2019-20: Arsenal 1-2 Brighton & Hove Albion - 5 Talking Points
Before kickoff, there was a gut feeling that Arsenal might just be able to pull this off and get all three points. However, Brighton & Hove Albion went against the odds to prove otherwise.
The home team performed better in the early stages of the first half but they allowed the visitors to get better over time and soon, Bernd Leno became the busier of the two goalkeepers.
Punished by set-pieces when they played against Liverpool, Brighton scored from a corner as Adam Webster opened the scoring. Five minutes after a strong restart from the North London side, Alexandre Lacazette equalised to level the playing field. At that point, the Arsenal players probably believed in that glimmer of hope in winning at home.
David Luiz nearly helped his side take the lead but he was in an offside position and the goal was eventually ruled out following a VAR check. Chances continued to fall for Arsenal but substitute Neal Maupay made it 1-2 for Brighton, sealing the result of the match. This marks the Seagulls' first-ever away win against Arsenal in their history.
#5 Keeping clean sheets takes a miracle
It will be a miracle if Arsenal were to keep a clean sheet. The last time Leno kept a clean sheet was in the team's victory over Bournemouth in early October. Since then, he has conceded in every single match and that looks to continue in the near future. However, Leno is not the main culprit.
As the keeper who has made the most number of saves in the Premier League, it is the defence and midfield ahead of him which has constantly let him and the team down. Whenever Brighton pressed, the Arsenal players panicked and lost their shape all at once. Their failure to retain composure and concentration throughout the game is severely costing the team.
Earlier in the week, Ljungberg noted that Arsenal's weakness lies in how they defend during the transition. When Brighton came close to scoring in the 60th minute, it was once again evident that the defenders simply have no clue where their opponents are. It seems like as long as the issue is not solved, the Gunners won't secure a clean sheet.
Also check out: Premier League Table Premier League \Champions League table