By Bulldog Drummond
How to understate the bleedin’ obvious: “Arsenal have finished the season strongly.”
That comes from Who scored and it doesn’t quite bring across what has happened. We’ve won our last four games scoring nine conceding two. In ten of our last 23 games we have scored three or more goals. In our last seven games we have conceded four goals.
But, if you have not been paying attention you might be assuming that we regularly beat Brighton but this is not the case.
| Date | Game | Res | Score | Competition |
| 5 Feb 1983 | Arsenal v Brighton and Hove Albion | W | 3-1 | Division One |
| 30 Jan 1988 | Brighton and Hove Albion v Arsenal | W | 1-2 | FA Cup |
| 26 Jan 2013 | Brighton and Hove Albion v Arsenal | W | 2-3 | FA Cup |
| 25 Jan 2015 | Brighton and Hove Albion v Arsenal | W | 2-3 | FA Cup |
| 1 Oct 2017 | Arsenal v Brighton and Hove Albion | W | 2-0 | Premier League |
| 4 Mar 2018 | Brighton and Hove Albion v Arsenal | L | 2-1 | Premier League |
| 26 Dec 2018 | Brighton and Hove Albion v Arsenal | D | 1-1 | Premier League |
| 5 May 2019 | Arsenal v Brighton and Hove Albion | D | 1-1 | Premier League |
| 5 Dec 2019 | Arsenal v Brighton and Hove Albion | L | 1-2 | Premier League |
| 20 Jun 2020 | Brighton and Hove Albion v Arsenal | L | 2-1 | Premier League |
| 29 Dec 2020 | Brighton and Hove Albion v Arsenal | W | 0-1 | Premier League |
However we have got a selection of videos from the wins on the video collection page on the Arsenal History Society site which makes the whole thing a little easier to swallow.
But the BBC will have none of it, with Marc Lawrenson proclaiming that Arsenal’s improvement is “all a bit late, really, but then they always seem to play well when the pressure is off them.” It is perhaps his biggest load of ludicrous gibberish all season – and that’s saying something.
So a revival which started about one third of the way through the season is “a bit late”, and Arsenal picking themselves up when 15th in the table was “when the pressure is off”. I suppose a bit like when winning the Double a record three times, or the FA Cup 14 times (more than any other club). No pressure in those games either.
And of course all the misleading stuff is there, as it is piled on every day: “the most important thing for them is to get the summer right in terms of recruitment.” Well yes, if it means keeping this squad that has been the third best team since Christmas together. But otherwise it is more rabble rousing (see the last episode of “The four dangers” series linked at the end of this piece.)
Brighton however (we are told) “appear to be in very good shape” – having won two, drawn three and lost three in their last eight and now borrowing money against next year’s TV revenue.
So yes you can see the BBC really has appreciated just how well we have been doing since Christmas. They even tell us that our home points total is the worst since 1995, without noting that this season home and away form has been reversed due to lack of crowds. (Results from crowdless games are different from those with crowds. Why? might help the BBC on this one).
But they do give us one nice thought. “Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang could become the first Gunners player since Alan Smith (1989-92) to score in the last match of four consecutive campaigns.”
So what of the teams, I hear you cry…
The Standard gives us
Leno;
Chambers, Holding, Gabriel, Tierney;
Partey, Xhaka;
Pepe, Odegaard, Saka;
Aubameyang.
The Guardian has a minor variant with Smith Rowe preferred
Leno;
Chambers, Holding, Gabriel, Tierney;
Partey, Xhaka;
Pepe, Smith Rowe, Saka;
Aubameyang.
Sports Keeda offer
Bernd Leno;
Callum Chambers, Rob Holding, Gabriel, Kieran Tierney;
Thomas Partey, Granit Xhaka;
Nicolas Pepe, Martin Odegaard, Bukayo Saka;
Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang.
which aside from the addition of first names, is where we were when we started.
And SportsMole do the same apart from reversing the positions of Xhaka and Partey, so by and large I think we can take it that there is general agreement of who we might play from those available. So I guess we’ll leave it at that.
I’ll be back, I hope, in time for the prelims to next season.
The four dangers that could stop Arsenal’s return to greatness
- Arsenal face four huge dangers as they stand again on the edge of greatness
- The four dangers that could stop Arsenal’s rise next season. 2: The journalists
- The four dangers that could stop Arsenal’s rise: Part 3; returning to the tackle
- The four dangers that could stop Arsenal’s rise back to the top: Part 4 – the rabble rousers
Everyone got the team wrong. No Saka!
Leno;
Chambers, Holding, Gabriel, Tierney;
Partey, Xhaka;
Pepe, Odegaard, Smith Rowe’
Aubameyang.
Subs, Runarsson, Mari, Cedric, Elneny, Ceballos, Saka, Martinelli, Nketiah, Lacazette
I think in today’s last Premier League matches of the season, and in particular the one involving Arsenal and Brighton at the Emirates Stadium, the Gunners are very much under pressure to beat the Seagulls in the match.
This is against BBC’s Marc Lawrenson’s thoughts. Who thinks Arsenal play better when the pressure to win is off them. But in their today’s home PL match encounter against Brighton, the pressure is very much on Arsenal to win the match. So as to possibly make the club grab the PL one allotted ECL slot to play in Europe next season.
But there are two other PL club sides of Tottenham Hs and Everton who are rivaling Arsenal in their today’s match to also grab the same one slot that is at stake for grabbing by any of trio club sides. But depending on the result they obtain in their individual match today. And this has made the pressure to build more on Arsenal to beat Brighton.
So, in the actual sense of things, I don’t know what Marc Lawrenson is talking about. But maybe he could be talking gibberish against Arsenal as the UA has pointed it out above.
Nevertheless, in as much as Brighton has nothing seriously at stake to play for in their match against Arsenal, other than to be delighted if they stop Arsenal to possibly finish 7th in table today by obtaining a result in the match.
Therefore, I want to see Arsenal play against Brighton in the match relaxing in their minds but to not tense up in the game. So as to avoid playing in the match under metal pressure. Which if not abhorred could transmit to physical pressure as they play on in the match. And this could lead to them making mistakes and errors, even the unforced ones in the game.
I predict a result of: Arsenal 4 Brighton 0. As my final score-line take at the end of the match.
I’ve been looking at the Arsenal starts and bench for Brighton and scrutinizing them. But I pray nothing will happen to Leno in the match that will required him to be substituted. For, Runarsson could be a problem in the game for Arsenal if he happens to come on for Leno.
no explanation why they blew the whistle in the Brighton box…no commentator even asked why.
Our second half was quite entertaining
Too bad that the Spuds won…not because we missed out on a third rate competition but simply because they finished above us.
Good bye to Ceballos and Odegaard. They helped us out while on loan and I wish them the best back in Spain.
Lots to look forward to, especially our young guns.
Relax during June, boys and we’ll see you in August!!
I’m very optimistic about next season.
Did I just see Spurs celebrating their 7th is not a trophy finish ? Just asking.
Also regarding the spudies, do I sense another commemorative mug coming on ? !!
Nitram it’s the DVD
In that case it will make a wonderful companion to the catchyly titled:
‘How to win f*** all in living memory and still be lauded by the media as the most successful club in North London’ DVD.
Which is very popular down at Le Grove I believe.
Willock scored for the seventh consecutive game and Arteta says he’s staying. I hope so and with Saliba coming back one signing would be enough for me.
Great to see Pepe finally settling in. No doubt if he scores in 37 games next season, the media (and a large part of our fan base) will slag him off for the one he doesn’t score in.
Very optimistic.
Our hopes to qualify to play in the inaugural Uefa Conference League next season was rising. But suddenly was dashed by that Tottenham Hs big player called Gareth Bsle. Who made the big difference in the match for Tottenham when it’s mattered most in the game for them by scoring 2 quick goals in the match for his Spurs team. And that saw Tottenham not only finally placed on the 7th placed finish above us on the 8th placed finish this season. But also gave Spurs the bragging right to say to us that, they the Totts are the ones who will play in the inaugural ECL competition next season but not us the Arsenals. Hmmm.
Ooh dear us the Arsenals. For, if not our own big player Aubameyang, who let us down terribly all through this season as he only registered 10 goals on the score sheet for us in the PL. Arsenal might have reached the top-four places this season to play in the UCL next season. Or if he had scored just a goal for us when it’s mattered most in our home ELC 2nd semifinal match against Villarreal. Arsenal would have qualified to play in the ELC final against Man Utd this season. And if as our big player, he makes the difference for us in the match when it’s mattered most to score the title winning goal or goals for us in the match to lift the trophy, like Luiz Suarez and Bale did for Atletico and Spurs yesterday and today. Arsenal will lift the ELC this season.
It is now left to Arteta and Edu to sign one good player this summer who Arsenal can trust and count on him to make the difference for the club in matches when it’s mattered most to win and he delivers to make it for us.
Main while, let us take positives from our winning run of 5 games in the PL this season and carry the run into next season’s campaign in the PL to continue with our winning run.
Thank you all and goodbye for the timebeing.
A good finish to a bad season. Once again we had fatty Moss w ho gave us nothing, proved selective vision is covered by VAR and despite the victory insured Spuds won with ball to hand or such specialist stuff that couldn’t be dreamt of.
Our loan players might be convinced to stay and certainly our loanees will return better for their experience. The fans who came to enjoy our system of play had their fill. Those that came with a negative were swollowing humble pie and choking on black flags, baloons and posters that took their savings that might leave them short in the loo.
I have not seen MOTD or Artetas interview after the game as I was a little down after Gooner Lewis and Valterie being let down by a team that usually is so precise. Mercedes will come back with venom and aggression that F1 has missed for a while.
Our defence played well and we missed a few good attempts. I was really pleased that Partey actually hit the goal with his shots. Xhaka disappointed not shooting his special over the wall top right corner rather than warm the opponents with fizzing leather.
It is now down to the ambition of our owners and their investment in quality technique trainers and in understanding Artetas project.
Looking forward to our team news and pre season programme with our squad of brilliant young players.
Just watching MOTD and Walkers Barrowman got the introduction wrong by saying two into three won’t go! It’s obviously his bedroom maths.
It is quite amazing how much this 4th place trophy means to all these wealthy clubs with all their fans and our decenters suddenly realising how much Wengers success was really worth. 25 years collecting the funding for our new stadium and the gratitude was merci Wenger.
Bale’s first goal should not have stood. Kane controlled the ball with his hand. In my book that is cheating. In the eyes of PGMOL and the sports media, it’s not a problem.
Azpilicueta was sent off for tapping Grealish in the face with a finger. Contrast this with Benteke’s attempted forearm smash on ElNeny (for which Mo received a yellow card).
PGMOL stinks.