Well, that was fun.
A trip to Brighton looked tricky on paper, especially as Roberto De Zerbi’s side hadn’t lost at home in the league since August, but Arsenal made light work of the occasion, producing a mature performance to secure a 3-0 win.
Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz and Leandro Trossard did the damage as the Gunners replied in style to Manchester City’s win against Crystal Palace and put the pressure back on Liverpool.
Here’s what the managers, players, pundits and stattos made of this evening’s match…
Mikel Arteta on overcoming a tough Brighton side…
It was very difficult – they haven’t lost here since August. A really difficult team to play against, and they ask so many questions, but the team was mature and clever in the game we had to play. In attack and defence, we had big performances individually. We missed some big chances but the team looked really connected and had purpose. The last pass and shot to finish the situation could have been better, but it doesn’t matter as we kept going. I’m really pleased to play here.
Source: BBC Sport
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Roberto De Zerbi on his side’s performance…
We played a good first half and played well in the second half until the second goal. After that we played not so good and deserved to lose against one of the best Premier League sides. With our injured players we can’t compete against Arsenal. We are sorry and disappointed for our fans. We wanted to get points, to win the game and compete in better ways.
Source: BBC Sport
Arsenal have kept five consecutive clean sheets on the road in the Premier League for the first time since April 1997.#BHAARS
— Orbinho (@Orbinho) April 6, 2024
Arteta on the above stat…
Yes, that is really good and a huge plus. We have to continue doing that.
Source: BBC Sport
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Bukayo Saka on learning from last season…
I feel like we’re in a much better place physically and mentally from last season. We’ve learned big lessons from last year, so we know what we need to do in these games. In these type of games, we need to score early, keep a clean sheet, work hard, and not give away any cheap goals. I feel like recently in 2024, we’ve been so solid, and we’ve been really impressive, so we’re happy with that.
Source: Arsenal.com
51 – Arsenal currently have a goal difference of +51 in the Premier League; their highest in the competition since the final day of the 2004-05 season (also +51). Dominant. pic.twitter.com/KLJnuGOqCZ
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) April 6, 2024
Kai Havertz on Arsenal sending a message to title rivals Manchester City and Liverpool…
We are ready for the challenge. We’re there and we are up for it. I think you see it every week that everyone plays at the limit. I think we even maybe can play better, but the attitude and the work rate of the boys is phenomenal and everyone puts everything into that game and I think that we are also successful right now.
Source: Sky Sports
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Arteta on the impact of Kai Havertz…
He was tremendous, again today. His other performances have been superb. Now his goal contribution is higher than anybody else in the league in the last few months and that tells the story. He’s a warrior, he was chasing 70 metres here, he’s a player with a big heart and determination. That’s why everybody loves him.
Source: Sky Sports
Brighton 0-3 Arsenal 📈
Arsenal go back to the top of the Premier League with a comfortable win on the south coast.
This was Brighton's first home league defeat since August, having gone 12 games unbeaten at the Amex Stadium before today (W6 D6).#BRIARS pic.twitter.com/OzTSQwEn3D
— Opta Analyst (@OptaAnalyst) April 6, 2024
Alan Shearer on Arsenal reacting to City’s earlier win…
They were mean at the back, classy in midfield and deadly up front. There was no moment they weren’t in control. Man City did their job this morning. Once you play first it’s up to the later teams to respond. Arsenal have with class, it’s now up to Liverpool tomorrow to do that against Manchester United.
Source: Premier League Productions
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Emmanuel Petit on Arsenal’s maturity…
I’m very happy with that performance. They controlled the game from the first minute until the end. They were not nervous despite City putting pressure on them before the game. A clean sheet again, they showed composure and were very intelligent. They deserved totally to win that game.
Source: Premier League Productions
Are you not entertained? 🥶 pic.twitter.com/alVGgIMqH4
— Leandro Trossard (@LTrossard) April 6, 2024
Havertz on how much he’s enjoying proving his doubters wrong…
A lot.
Source: Sky Sports
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Theo Walcott on Arsenal having strength in depth…
The substitutions, the goals and how the affect games, they fit right in. It makes Mikel Arteta’s life so much easier because these players are hungry, they want to play, they want to give Mikel a headache. You can start trusting a lot of these players.
Source: Sky Sports
David Raya is the first goalkeeper in #Arsenal's history to keep a clean sheet in five consecutive away league appearances.
— Harvey Downes (@HarveyDownes92) April 6, 2024
Arteta on Jorginho…
He was superb. And as well, I think nobody expected him to run into those areas with the ball to assist Kai but I think his leadership, his intelligence, the quality he delivers, I think it makes everybody better. I think today he, Dec and Martin in the middle were outstanding.
Source: Post-game press conference
Kai is klass
We also should be taking more about just how incredible Odegaard is. Not just in terms of his brilliance going forward, but he’s IMO the best off ball footballer on the planet. He’s relentless on the press, but the timing of the moments he levels up his press and leads the team is unbelievable and he’s doing it 90+ mins r every game. Odegaard is incredible. Honestly, I think Odegaard, Rice, Saliba and Gabriel should all be in the conversation for player of the season in the EPL and Saka is my favorite player… But what Odegaard is doing is… Read more »
kai’s the limit for havertz
My only question: when White, Odegaard, Havertz are getting a break? That’s unfair
In the summer.
No sleep ’til Brooklyn!
Unfair on who??
Our rivals
Benjamin had a decent break fairly recently, though maybe it wasn’t ideal that he probably spent half of it trying to recover from being thrown under a bus by Southgate
White had a two week break during international break. He’s good for now.
Not sure I would describe it as unfair but I do worry a little about Ode. He is the only person in the team I don’t think can be replaced. ESR is probably the closest we have to replicating the combination of guile, creativity and pressing…I know we rate him highly but I still think our captain is underrated…
We’re peaking at the right time. Hopefully it will be enough.
Wanted to thumb you up but you have 29 already.
I think it’s perfect.
👍👍👍
Probably on my own, but my daughter is obsessed with Ob la di, Ob la da by the Beatles at the moment, and we sing is at home as Big Gabi! Saliba! Arsenaaaaallll! Na na na na na na, Arsenal!
Recommend it.
It feels good doesn’t it?! I have 9 and 5 year old boys and they sing those songs most days also super Mik arteta.. Young gunners
I still think ob la de odegaaaard, la la la la la Ødegaard, is a great chorus for a song
A classy enjoyable performance tonight and yes lets bask like a sea bask in it until tomorrow, i am truly thinking scousers are gonna dent our goal difference and could be manx manager last game, who knows, given that they gave away a win in last minutes against another poor side you would think against their biggest rivals, at home, after letting down all their supporters in last game they will put up a fight for us to at least to be in our own hands to win PL, as shit as man u are i can only hope for… Read more »
You got your wish.
Kai is now the Big Fecking German (BFG)
Big fogging german
BHG – Big Handsome German and LANS.
Strange how this blog ignores the fact that Bukayo admitted he’s not fit. Watching this young man being run into the ground slowly but surely….is not fun.
“Yeah, I was struggling, but as long as I have two legs, I’m going to give everything and I just want to be on the pitch. So I’m happy to be out there today.”
From the man himself – https://arseblog.news/2024/04/this-year-we-feel-more-comfortable-saka-reacts-to-win-over-brighton/
I’m sure he appreciates your concern though.
What else is he going to say? “I shouldn’t have been out there”? “I shouldn’t have played EVERY game for 2 years” ? Of course he’s going to put out the company line. But your own eyes should tell you that there’s at least been a slow decline in his game. This kid could’ve been and can still be a world class player. Just a bit of careful handling is required. Has Foden been required to play EVERY match for city over the last 3 years? Saka has carried us and at times England on his back for a long… Read more »
“Slow decline in his game”
17 goals and 13 assists this season – with at least 9 more games to play.
Last season 15 goals and 11 assists. Some decline that.
Slow decline IN his game…you need to curb your anger ..it hampers your grammer
Strange how amateur journalists can critisise anyone…but us plebs…(Your audience/customers) mus’nt DARE critisise you for fear of upsetting you. . Ah the joys of social media.
If you don’t like the site then go away, Blogs does a great job. Nobody here will miss you, and just because you are a pleb, no need to label everyone else.
brighton were playing pretty well until that penalty, which actually reminded me of how arsenal used to play a few years ago: tidy on the ball, only for an early defensive mistake of ours to change the narrative for the rest of the game. back then every press conference was about the lack of concentration and learning lessons. season after season we always had “to learn” from awful defeats and it seemed like we never did. so now it’s so satisfying to hear the words “we learned” so often in postmatch interviews, what a refreshing change! finally!!!!!!
Love havertz. One of the smartest signings we’ve made in years. 60 million down the drain…