LOWEST OF THE LOW
Just when Gunners fans hoped the worst was over, along come the Seagulls to make turkeys out of Wenger’s flops... this was the
EVERY time you think Arsene Wenger has reached his lowest point, this Arsenal team find a way to plumb new depths.
No leadership, no character, no heart. Their latest surrender was an embarrassment, a betrayal of the Gunners’ traditions and Wenger’s legacy.
One half of the team have lost all confidence, the other half looked as if they did not care.
This is Arsenal’s worst run in 16 years and Wenger (right), sitting powerless on the bench with his assistant Steve Bould, appears to have lost his ability to change the mood. Not since October 2002 have Arsenal lost four games in a row and, judging by this performance, it is difficult to know where the next win will come from.
Arsenal are falling apart, Wenger’s departure cannot come soon enough.
And yet the body language of some of the players absolutely stinks as they do not seem ready to fight for their beleaguered manager – let alone the shirt.
Mesut Ozil walked through the first half, Henrikh Mkhitaryan lacked any sort of courage while Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang looked lost and bewildered – as if he cannot believe the mess he has got himself into.
Arsenal followers chanted, “We want Wenger out” during the first half with their team 2-0 down. No huge banner, no plane flying overhead, just a concerted effort from supporters who have had enough.
This must be the end. Wenger has lost the fans, the players – and the club has lost its direction as the team is just drifting with too many show ponies and not enough thoroughbreds.
At the final whistle, keeper Petr Cech – at fault on both Brighton goals – went over to the travelling fans and gave his shirt as if to offer some sort of apology while Granit Xhaka hung his head. They look absolutely lost, bereft of any belief and guidance. Heaven knows how Arsenal prepare to face AC Milan in the Europa League on Thursday in the San Siro in a competition which could save their season. But the truth is that it has gone beyond that now. Wenger has lost his way, lost his grip and his only salvation is that in any other year Arsenal would be languishing in mid-table obscurity. The fact they are still in sixth place proves the rest of the Premier League is pretty average. Brighton had far more hunger, desire and energy. Chris Hughton has worked wonders, admitting afterwards that the first 40 minutes of football was their best this season.
It took the Seagulls only seven minutes to go ahead and the goal said everything about the difference in the two teams.
A Pascal Gross corner carried to the back post, Cech came and did not get there and Shane Duffy headed back across goal.
Brighton captain Lewis Dunk was there to power home a close-range volley as Arsenal’s feeble defending from set pieces was horribly exposed.
There are few better English central defenders around than local lad Dunk and it seems bizarre Gareth Southgate has