Arteta Fumes Over Penalty Decision as Arsenal Drop Points Against Brighton

Arsenal's 1-1 draw with Brighton has left manager Mikel Arteta frustrated, citing simple mistakes and a controversial penalty decision. Read more.

Arsenal's 1-1 Premier League draw against Brighton on Saturday was marred by an injury to 17-year-old goal-scorer Ethan Nwaneri, leaving manager Mikel Arteta frustrated by the costly result. The draw allowed Arsenal's title rivals to close the gap, and Arteta was disappointed by the simple mistakes that led to his team dropping two valuable points.

Nwaneri had a promising outing, filling in for the injured Bukayo Saka on the right wing and scoring in the 16th minute. However, his impressive performance was cut short due to an injury, forcing him to be substituted at halftime. The loss of Nwaneri's pace and energy was evident in the second half, as Arsenal conceded a penalty, allowing Brighton to equalize and snatch a draw.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta delivered a disappointing update on Ethan Nwaneri's status after the 1-1 draw against Brighton, revealing that the 17-year-old goal-scorer had suffered a muscular injury. “Really bad news, because I think we've lost him (Nwaneri). We had to take him off at halftime with some muscular issues,” Arteta told the BBC.

Nwaneri's departure at halftime coincided with a decline in Arsenal's performance, as they struggled to maintain their dominance against Brighton. The result ultimately saw Arsenal drop two valuable points, leaving them second in the table, five points behind Liverpool, who have two games in hand. Reflecting on the second half, Arteta said, “In the second half, we didn't really grab the game or dominate enough to have certain moments and be more of a threat in their half, but defensively we did not concede much.”

Mikel Arteta attributed Arsenal's underwhelming performance against Brighton to their inability to execute simple tasks while in possession of the ball. “Today was not about fatigue, it was about the simple things that we have to do in ball possession to give chances and dominate the game in the right areas,” the Spaniard added, emphasizing the need for his team to improve their ball control and decision-making.

Arteta also expressed his disappointment and confusion over the penalty decision that led to Brighton's equalizing goal. The penalty was awarded after a clash of heads between Joao Pedro and Arsenal defender William Saliba. “We are really disappointed with the decision that leads to the goal because I have never seen something like this in my life,” Arteta said. “He (Saliba) touches the ball as well,” he added, highlighting the apparent inconsistency in the referee's decision.