ARSENAL made it an astonishing NINE matches without a win as Brighton earned a 2-1 victory at the Emirates.
Adam Webster put the visitors in front ten minutes before half-time before Alexandre Lacazette drew the Gunners level just after the break.
Arsenal lost 2-1 at home to Brighton to make it nine games without a victory in all competitionsCredit: Reuters
But Neal Maupay glanced a fine header into the far corner to register the Seagulls’ first ever win at Arsenal.
Here’s how SunSport’s Rob Maul rated Freddie Ljungberg’s men…
Bernd Leno – 7
Arsenal’s best player but only because he prevented it from being a far worse mess than it was defensively.
This was the 11th match in a row in which Arsenal have failed to keep a clean sheet. And though he made some decent saves, the German was let down by his dodgy defence.
Hector Bellerin – 5
Sloppy from the Spaniard at times, particularly as he failed to keep track of the Brighton nuisance Aaron Connolly.
Conceded a free-kick against Connolly on 20 minutes on the edge of the penalty area for which he was booked. Regrettably he did not prevent the cross from which Brighton scored the winner.
Sokratis – 5
When Brighton were in the ascendancy, the Greek was stretched and struggled to contain their attack.
Should have marked the Brighton attackers tighter when Adam Webster scored from a 36th-minute corner to put the visitors ahead.
Bernd Leno helped to keep the hosts in the game but even his heroics could not rescue a pointCredit: Getty – Contributor
David Luiz – 4
Poor body language from the Brazilian as he argued with his teammates in the first half and complained about a lack of support.
He was slow to react for both Brighton goals and was once again the weak link in the defence.
Thought he had scored in the second half but was clearly offside and VAR correctly ruled out his strike.
Sead Kolasinac – 6
The tough Bosnian ended up in the back of the net as he chased down Lacazette’s header that went in.
Then he had a hefty fall in a meaty challenge from Steven Alzate on 70 minutes and limped off. An injury doubt for the weekend.
Lucas Torreira – 5
Brighton exposed Arsenal in the midfield areas and often Uruguayan Torreira was overrun and unable to respond.
Should have taken really control of the match. But he didn’t. And he couldn’t.
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Granit Xhaka – 5
Where was the leadership from the returning Swiss star when Arsenal went behind?
Where was the aggression or organisation?
Should have played a more influential role.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang – 5
There were tricks and weaves along the right wing and a couple of decent crosses.
But Arsenal’s top scorer was otherwise an anonymous figure and a shadow of the player that scored 31 goals last season.
Joe Willock – 4
Went close with a header on 40 minutes which was well saved by the feet of Brighton goalkeeper Mathew Ryan.
But interim boss Freddie Ljungberg was not impressed and replaced the young Englishman with Nicolas Pepe at the start of the second half.
David Luiz was poor in defence once again and lazily drifted offside before his goal that was ruled outCredit: Getty – Contributor
Mesut Ozil – 5
It’s times like these when the club’s highest-paid player is required to step up and be counted but once again he was a peripheral figure.
He started brightly enough and there were glimpses of the old magic but he faded as the match went on and it’s hard to remember his contributions.
Alexandre Lacazette – 6
Thanks goodness for the Frenchman, who marked his 100th game for Arsenal with his 41st goal following an ingenious header five minutes into the second half.
But his impact faded thereafter and it was the right call to bring him off for Gabriel Martinelli with 13 minutes left.
SUBS
Nicolas Pepe – 5 (on for Joe Willock HT)
Did not contribute much in his second-half cameo appearance.
Kieran Tierney – 5 (on for Sead Kolasinac 72 mins)
Steadied the ship defensively when he came on.
Gabriel Martinelli – 6 (on for Lacazette 77 mins)
Could not believe his luck as his goal-bound header was brilliantly saved by Ryan.
Brighton celebrate Neal Maupay’s winner in front of their travelling supportersCredit: AFP or licensors
Arsene Wenger happy to help at Arsenal if Freddie Ljungberg seeks advice
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
