Premier League: Arsenal Stumble as Controversial Penalty Hands Brighton a Draw

Mikel Arteta has expressed his frustration after Arsenal’s title hopes took another hit in a 1-1 draw against Brighton, courtesy of a contentious penalty decision.

Controversial Call Rocks Arsenal

Arsenal took an early lead through 17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri, whose composed finish in the 16th minute showcased his immense potential. However, a second-half penalty awarded to Brighton after a soft clash of heads between William Saliba and Joao Pedro changed the game.

Pedro went down holding his face after minimal contact, and the referee pointed to the spot. Pedro converted the penalty to level the game, leaving Arteta furious.

"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."

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Depleted Arsenal Struggle to Capitalise

Already missing Bukayo Saka due to a hamstring injury, Arsenal’s attacking options were further limited by the absences of Kai Havertz, Martin Odegaard, and Gabriel Martinelli. Nwaneri stepped up in Saka’s absence, but even his promising performance was cut short by injury, forcing Arteta to bring on Martinelli at half-time.

Despite dominating the first half, Arsenal failed to generate enough momentum after the break. A missed opportunity from Mikel Merino to double the lead early in the second half proved costly, as Brighton began to grow into the game.

Brighton’s Resilience Shines

Fabian Hurzeler’s Brighton, winless in eight games, showed fight and resilience, especially in the closing stages. Yakuba Minteh squandered a golden chance to seal all three points, with his shot narrowly missing its mark.

Hurzeler reflected on the result, saying: "It should be more than a point. We came back but we were not clean enough in the final third. We had big chances."

Title Race Ramifications

The draw leaves Arsenal five points behind leaders Liverpool, who have two games in hand and face Manchester United at Anfield on Sunday. With the Gunners missing key players and struggling to find consistency, their title challenge is now in jeopardy.

Arteta acknowledged his side’s shortcomings, saying: "We did a lot of things not to the standard with the ball. We never got set in areas that could generate chances."

What’s Next?

Arsenal will need to regroup quickly as the Premier League title race heats up. With their squad stretched thin and Liverpool pulling away, every point will be vital in the weeks to come. Brighton, meanwhile, will hope their spirited performance sparks a turnaround in their season.

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