Winners and Losers: Brighton (a)

Two Saturdays ago, Arsenal braved both the elements and a ferocious Brighton side on the southern coast to return to London with a point. Disappointing performances from multiple core players saw the Gunners thoroughly outplayed by the Seagulls, and lucky to end the match as a draw. It was a frustrating result after Arsenal’s triumphant blitz against Spurs. However, it was a game that Arsenal previously could have lost by a fair margin. But with 10 points taken from a possible 12, Arsenal remained undefeated since the end of the transfer window heading into the international break. Below are three winners and three losers from a tough but somewhat encouraging away outing.

Winners

Alexandre Lacazette

For much of the afternoon, Arsenal were overrun in midfield and unable to progress the ball up the pitch. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, after admirably holding up the ball in Arsenal’s previous match, was stifled by Brighton’s center-backs and prevented from serving as an outlet. However, Lacazette came on and fulfilled that role as well as he did last season, coming deep and picking up the ball. He once again combined well with Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe. After looking very much surplus to requirements to start the season, Arsenal’s No. 9 demonstrated on Saturday that he still has something to give this season.

Bukayo Saka

Saka looks to finally be back to his old self. He was one of the most threatening players on the pitch for Arsenal, consistently giving Brighton trouble in their third. Perhaps his best moment came in the opening minute of the match, when Saka beat three men before putting a low stinger of a shot on target. Saka recently looks to be honing his skills when it comes to goalscoring, and he threatened as much against Brighton last Saturday.

Ben White

It is time to put to bed the assertion that Ben White is just some pretty face in Arsenal’s back line. Against Burnley, he showed he was willing to get his hands dirty and helped kept a clean sheet against one of the most physical sides in the Premier League. He repeated that feat away to Brighton. Even as the Seagulls stormed down the field again and again, he assisted in maintaining Arsenal’s clean sheet on the day. The current back five for the Gunners have provided a defensive security that has not often been present for Arsenal in recent years. While he is fairly neat on the ball, White demonstrated that he can also do a job without the ball too.

Losers

Thomas Partey

The Brighton match honestly may have been one of Partey’s worst performances in an Arsenal shirt. Primarily, it was because of the spectacularly dreadful shooting the Ghanaian midfielder engaged in. Much to Arsenal’s displeasure, Partey took several shots throughout the match. Of note was a free kick in the first half with which, from about 30 yards, Partey chose to go for goal instead of create what would have been a rare goalscoring opportunity that afternoon. He inexcusably blasted the ball over Brighton’s goal and threw away possession. With Arsenal’s No. 5 having yet to score for the club and averaging an xG per shot of under 0.05, Partey’s insistence on shooting has begun to detract from his value as a player. He needs to focus on what he can do. If he doesn’t , he risks jeopardizing his team’s chances of success while trying to cosplay as a goalscoring midfielder.

Martin Odegaard

The Brighton match was a bad day at the office for the young maestro. His touch throughout the match was quite poor, and he frequently lost possession in key moments. Brighton’s physicality and tight marking proved too much for the Norweigian No. 8, and he effectively was a passenger for much of proceedings. After his great showing in the North London Derby, it was a disappointing way for attacking midfielder to come back down to earth.

Gabriel Martinelli

Another match in which Arsenal need a goal off the bench. Another match in which Gabriel Martinelli’s number isn’t called. The Brazilian watched on as Nicolas Pepe was once again favored over him, but could not contribute much. Even Ainsley Maitland-Niles came on the pitch ahead of the young forward. It is quickly becoming clear that game time will not come easy for Martinelli. If he can’t get some minutes soon, a loan in January might be the only way to salvage the season for a promising young player who needs minutes.

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