Arsenal Star Fires Back at Brighton Boss Over Time-Wasting Claims

Gabriel Magalhaes has delivered a defiant response to Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler’s scathing criticism following our 1-0 victory at the Amex Stadium on Wednesday night — another feisty encounter in the growing Arsenal vs Brighton rivalry.

The Brazilian defender, who put in another commanding performance to help secure our third consecutive Premier League win, dismissed Hurzeler’s complaints about alleged time-wasting tactics that helped extend our lead at the top to seven points.

Brighton Boss Launches Scathing Attack

Hurzeler didn’t hold back in his post-match assessment, accusing Arsenal of gamesmanship and questioning whether David Raya’s injury was legitimate. The German coach claimed there was “only one team that tried to play football” and criticized our approach to closing out the game.

“Did you see in a Premier League game a goalkeeper going down the times?” Hurzeler asked reporters. “They make their own rules. I will never be the kind of manager who tries to win in that way.”

“We don’t really care about what he says. That is for the referee to decide on the pitch. If he wants to give a yellow card or not, he decides the time we take.”

Gabriel’s No-Nonsense Response

Speaking to ESPN Brazil, Gabriel made it clear that our focus remains firmly on results rather than outside criticism.

“We just have to do things the way we are doing and keep going,” the centre-back added. “I think not every game we will be perfect. The way we defend is very important. The most important thing is the three points.”

The 26-year-old’s response perfectly encapsulates our mentality this season. While we may not have been at our fluid best against Brighton, showing the resilience to grind out victories when not playing well is exactly what title-winning teams do.

Gabriel’s defensive display was once again exemplary, continuing what has been an outstanding campaign for the Brazilian. His partnership with William Saliba has been the foundation of our title charge, and his leadership qualities shine through in moments like these.

With Manchester City dropping points at home on the same night, our ability to secure three points despite an off-night proves we’ve developed the winning mentality required for a sustained title push. As Gabriel put it: “Now it’s three wins in a row, and of course we have to keep winning. That’s the most important thing.”