By Bulldog Drummond
Beyond any doubt the Brighton problem is goal scoring at home. They scored 21 goals at home in 2024, compared with 49 in 2023. And that suggests Arsenal should see this game through ok.
But if you like prognostications, it can also be noted that Brighton and Hove have either won or drawn every single first game of the year, for the last eight years. Which either means that run will continue… or it won’t. Which now I come to think of it, isn’t very helpful.
Anyway, if we stop just looking at Arsenal in the Premier League and include Europe and the DiddlyWiddly Cup Arsenal have not been defeated in the last 12 games, with nine of those victories. On the other hand a win here would mean four wins in a row for Arsenal which the club hasn’t done at all this season – for reasons that will not become clear at this point.
However we do score a lot of goals from corners for reasons that you will know perfectly well, Gabriel Jesus has scored six goals in his last four games (which surprised me even if you expected it) and Kai Havertz has scored against Brighton each time he has played for Arlsenal against them.
As for the team the Express offer us
Raya
Partey, Saliba, Magalhaes, Calafiori
Odegaard, Rice, Merino
Havertz, Jesus, Martinelli
The Standard goes without Havertz which seems odd, but maybe they know something we don’t. They offer
Raya;
Partey, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly;
Odegaard, Rice, Merino;
Martinelli, Jesus, Trossard
The Metro offers the same as the Standard. And indeed so does 90 min. And as ever once we start seeing the same team over and over again, we tend to stop.
So that’s about it. But I would if I may take us right back to the start, or somewhere around that.
| Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | Brighton and Hove Albion home | 9 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 13 | 12 | 1 | 14 |
| 4 | Arsenal away | 10 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 20 | 11 | 9 | 18 |
Arsenal have not been the sharpest team away from home this season, But our defeats happened during the course of the club’s one and only dip so far this season – and if you were a reader last year you might recall we did quite a lot of speculation about the need for Arsenal to stop defeats turning into prolonged dips in form. The four match dip involved a sequence of games which included matches against Liverpool, Newcastle and Chelsea – not clubs that are impossible to beat but clubs for which Arsenal needed to be on top form, but were not. The three away matches during that dip are what has caused our away form to look poorer than might otherwise be the case….
| Date | Match | Result | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19 Oct 2024 | AFC Bournemouth v Arsenal | L | 2-0 |
| 27 Oct 2024 | Arsenal v Liverpool | D | 2-2 |
| 02 Nov 2024 | Newcastle United v Arsenal | L | 1-0 |
| 10 Nov 2024 | Chelsea v Arsenal | D | 1-1 |
But since that 10 November match Arsenal have played eight Premier League games, won six and drawn two. The goals scored have been 20, the goals against five. If that form can continue we should see this game through without a glimpse of a problem.
A penalty never seen given before and never will be given again in our lifetime…. but it was against Arsenal so nobody cares…. In my referee days the instruction was that no player would ever attempt to do a delibarete headbut against another opponent while challenging for the ball so is should not be given as a foul as this is not deliberate. The instruction was: stop play (possible head injury) and restart with a dropped ball. But not when it is Arsenal of course…
Walter
I just feel sick.
You just knew that as soon as we had worked our way up the table into a challenging position the same old shit would start.
And as you suggest, nobody gives a f***
Just like those early reds that nobody else has been booked for since.
My West Ham and Man Utd mates I mention occasionally both messaged me immediately, basically saying WTF!!!
Rice taken out when jumping to head the ball by a Brighton player. He came down heavily on his shoulder and was fortunate not to dislocate it. No card for the Brighton player and was it even given as a foul?
In Rugby, where they seem far more concerned about player safety, that is deemed dangerous foul play and the offender is given a straight red card no hesitation. When is football going to follow suit.
You may recall a few years back when Bert Leno was deliberately taken out by Neil Maupey when jumping to catch the ball and injuring himself on landing. He missed the last ten odd games at the end of the season as a result. Coincidentally Maupey was a Brighton player as well.
Having said that we looked very tired in the second half after being in complete control in the first half. Probably as a result of us only being allowed a couple of days to recover from the Brentford match when all the other teams had at least four days between matches.
Another stitch up, and then we get Taylor. As you say, who cares it’s only Arsenal.
Just like Nitram I feel sick as well.
Maybe Man U will do us a favour tomorrow, as unlikely as it may seem.
The only good thing is the Spurs result which means we could be getting an earlier than usual St Totteringham’s Day this year
The pundits come out of the woodwork trying to justify the penalty decision and blaming Arsenal defence for the chaotic moment .
Taylor fulfilled my expectations. That’s now 4 ponts he has take from us this season.
Mick Shelly
The thing is, I don’t feel sick at the result. I feel sick because of Taylors performance, and even more so because of how it is effectively applauded by the media.
Although we needed, and should of got a win yesterday, in normal circumstances a draw at Brighton is okay. Disappointing but you move on.
The refereeing and the medias reaction on the other hand are something else entirely.
With yet another terrible performance from a referee that was biased in the extreme and included in his personal ‘rules for Arsenal hand book’ yet another decision against us that in this case I have NEVER seen before. I have never seen a clash of heads given as a foul, let alone a penalty.
And then the real sickener of the media backing Taylor up.
The thing is we knew this was coming. The last 2 referees were appointed for their records of home and away wins. Fortunately we gave them no chance to influence the match.
Unfortunately yesterday, by not playing so well, and not putting the game to bed, we left it in the balance. Or more accurately we gave Taylor the chance to influence the result and he took it with both hands.
Even if you ignore the fact he allowed Brighton to kick us with impunity throughout, all it takes in a game of such fine margins is to back one crucial call in favour of the opposition and it’s job done.
Anyone who has played football KNOWS an accidental (which they all are by definition) clash of heads is NOT A FOUL.
Trying to justify it is actually embarrassing, but that is what they will do.
We are being screwed by the officials and the media love it.
That is what makes me sick.