ARSENAL 2–0 BRIGHTON: BY THE VISUALS
ARSENAL 2–0 BRIGHTON: BY THE NUMBERS
Brighton were the last team to prevent Arsenal from scoring at the Emirates Stadium when Roberto De Zerbi’s men convincingly beat us in the corresponding fixture last season. Since then, we’d scored in 12 consecutive matches, accumulating a total of 37 goals heading into the fixture.
1 – Arsenal had won only one of their last six home games against Brighton in all competitions.
32 – Brighton had scored in their last 32 consecutive Premier League games.
2 – Brighton had won only two of their last 10 Premier League matches (D5 L3).
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After dominating the first half, Gabriel Jesus, whose all-round game was exceptional, scored a back-post header (0.31 xG) from a corner inadvertently flicked on by van Hecke, giving us a well-deserved lead on the 53rd minute.
8 – Arsenal have scored the most headed goals in the Premier League this season.
8 – Arsenal have scored more goals from corners than any other team in the Premier League this season.
The points were secured by Kai Havertz (0.33 xG, 0.73 xGOT) on the 87th minute after being slipped in by substitute Eddie Nketiah.
The intent was clear as soon as the game kicked-off, with Arsenal pressing high up the pitch. It set the tone for the performance and made it difficult for Brighton to play out from the back in their preferred style, regardless of how stubborn they were.
11 – High turnovers for Arsenal from possession chains starting at distances of up to 34 meters away from the opposing goal.
49% – Possession: the joint second-lowest percentage Arsenal have registered this season (47% against Spurs, 49% against City). However, the majority of Brighton’s possession took place in their defensive third.
135 – Touches Brighton made in their own penalty area, while Arsenal made just 24.
330 – Touches Brighton registered in their own defensive third, with Arsenal making 155.
26 – Shots in total, the most Arsenal have taken this season, with 20 coming from inside the box.
20 – Shots from open-play, accumulating an xG total of 1.70.
6 – Shots registered from set-plays, resulting in a total xG of 0.64.
3.7 – Minutes per shot for Arsenal compared to 16.2 minutes per shot for Brighton.
5 – Big chances created (the most Arsenal have created this season), with 2 big chances scored.
4 – Shots taken by four different Arsenal players (Jesus, Havertz, Saka, and Martinelli), with Jesus leading the list with five.
56 – Touches of the ball in Brighton’s area, the second-highest number Arsenal have recorded this season (1 fewer than against Fulham at the Emirates).
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1 – Shot on target for Brighton, that was only allowed to stand as the referee waved play on after the linesman flagged offside.
64 – Minutes until Brighton registered their first shot.
6 – Arsenal players to play over 80 minutes who registered a pass completion total of over 90% (Rice 92%, Ødegaard 93%, Havertz 93%, White 94%, Jesus 97%, Saliba 99%)
5 – Key passes by Gabriel Martinelli (1st overall). Additionally, he completed 4 passes into the penalty area (1st overall), successfully played 1 cross into the penalty area (1st overall), attempted 8 take-ons (1st overall) with a successful completion rate of 38%, progressed play by carrying the ball 174 metres (1st overall), made 3 carries into the final third (1st overall), and executed 5 carries into the penalty area (1st overall).
I thought Martinelli was very good on the day, consistently providing an outlet, keeping their defence on the back foot, and carrying the ball forward repeatedly. Although his output is lower than last season and his decision-making isn’t quite at its best, he has had to adapt to different teammates and is being defended differently.
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Arsenal bounced back with an impressive performance, securing maximum points after the setback at Villa Park. A very good Brighton team were well-beaten, and although we should have scored more, the win goes a long way in banishing the nightmare from the defeat last season that practically ended our title hopes. With the weekend’s results falling in our favour, we now sit back at the top of the table. Next up is Anfield.
Follow me on Twitter @jonollington
Sources: Opta, fbref, @Orbinho twitter feed
Domination!
Lets get some true perspective on this game, yes the stats look like we were the overwhelmingly better side, dominate and lively when we could/should of scored more goals, the thing is we were playing a jaded looking Brighton side who played a difficult Marsielle side in europa cup on Thursday night winning win a late winner, we on the other hand played a CL dead rubber with 8 changes from our last game 2 days prior to them, then for Brighton to play away at us with an earlier kick off in front of a crowd not only wanting… Read more »
“Our next game at Anfield will show our true potential of winning PL”, agree.
Beautiful work. I have one minor question. Arsenal had 9 shots blocked but on defense Brighton blocked 10 shots. How does that discrepancy arise? Thanks
Dunk blocked one shot with both his balls. They’re both a lot flatter than they were previously.
😂 – the ball clearly ricocheted from one pounding ball to the other – thus resulting in 9 blocked shots or 10 depending how you view the old double knacker smacker
Good data. Good win. Dominant without being scoreline dominant – that’s the final puzzle piece here, but we’re starting to purr… No coincidence that Havertz being a more fluid part of the attacking game is happening as we’re starting to build some momentum across two competitions. Getting even more out of him could be the difference maker for the title IMO…COYG!
Chelsea fan with the downvote?
I hear mutters about ZInchenko at our local Arsenal bar, but I fear for this team when he doesn’t start. Zinny is a big part of our quick passing and creative success when we are playing like we are right now. And the numbers back him up – most progressive passes, most tackles, and I am guessing, not far out of top 3 in Key Passes.
I don’t think he’s a bad defender at all. With him it’s all about mentality. He wants to be so progressive but sometimes it borders on careless instead. He makes mental errors when fatigued. Watch him closely and you’ll see his worst moments are just after he wins the ball back in his own half. He tries too hard to make something happen or thinks he has more time than he does and either dwells on it or plays a bad pass. When he’s well rested that doesn’t happen as much, if at all.
If you doubt zinny then read this
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/67747395
And I quote
“Zinchenko played 27 Premier League games last season, completing the most passes (64), most passes in the opposition half (38), playing the most passes into the final third (26) and having the most touches (92) per 90 minutes of any Arsenal player”
Yeah he may defensively blunder every now and then – but…
On Saturday it would be fun to introduce the Chido kid that put 10 past their U16. Maybe after we’ve gone 3:0 up in the first half.
Maybe even integrate him in the first team as our eventual proper 9
Some Twitter “tacticos” are saying we are the best “Out of Possession” team in the world right now. I couldn’t really understand what was going on from a tactical standpoint on Sunday, but I did know our pressing was of the highest order. To have a hardworking front 3, bulwarked by an equally hardworking midfield 3 of Ode, Rice, and Havertz, must be huge. Long may they continue to improve!
It is night and day difference to the early part of Arteta’s tenure when Auba or Laca would run around chasing the ball by themselves for a minute or so before they gave up and Mesut (the shadow of his former self) would just jog around the hovering in the vague vacinity of an attacking player not making a single tackle or header across the entire season. At that time was prime Klopp Gegenpresse, and man I remember a few games watching their tactical press torture us – now we’re fast becoming the ultimate tactical pressing team and it is… Read more »
Agreed. Because he’s small and blonde and pretty, Odegaard doesn’t get the kudos he deserves for his engine either. Doesn’t stop running all game.
And the bbc said we ‘eased past Brighton.’ Pfft.
Edged
Lets get this game in perspective, we played a CL game on a Tuesday, a dead rubber with 8 changes from our last PL game, Brighton played a difficult game v Marsielle winning in last minutes of game of a europa game on a Thursday night to top their group, we had 2 more days rest than them, they had to play away at us with an earlier kick off, is it any wonder they looked jaded and us so sprightly, ok we should of put this game to bed 1st half but we didnt, let’s not get ahead of… Read more »
Yay to making the same point twice .. must be tough to look at everything with a glass half empty view ..
Gee, we won a game and went top of the table!
Nope, not good enough .. the next game will show how good we are ..
I’m all for not being complacent through to the very last game of the season, but should we not enjoy our team winning beautifully and dominantly, and instead fret over what’s to come next? We’ll deal with that as and when it comes …
Do you really need more evidence to convince yourself that Arsenal are good?
we are now playing inverted Saliba too. It will be some game this weekend and I can’t wait for it. keep your cool heads Gunners. We can absolutely win this fixture.