HE’S HARD AS NEALS And boss Potter does not want to blunt Maupay’s competitive edge

GRAHAM POTTER has given the green light to Neal Maupay to keep winding up the big boys of the Premier League.

Brighton’s French striker was involved in a flare-up at the end of Albion’s dramatic 2-1 victory over Arsenal on Saturday after he had scored the injurytime winner.

Arsenal’s players were fuming at Maupay’s earlier challenge on Bernd Leno, which saw the German goalkeeper carried off on a stretcher.

Leno appeared to accuse Albion’s £20million top scorer of recklessness as he went off and Gunners midfielder Matteo Guendouzi grabbed the Brighton striker round the throat at the end of the game.

Amazingly, Guendouzi escaped any disciplinary action last night.

Both Brighton and Arsenal have been warned of their responsibilities after the scenes but Potter does not want to put a hold on Maupay’s fiery qualities.

The Albion manager, whose side visit Leicester tonight, said: “That competitive attitude is part of Neal’s game. He has that competitive side, that edge, which is important. He is a fighter, he fights for the team and fights for the club. People forget that he is only 23, he is adapting

LEICESTER (4-5-1):

Schmeichel; Justin, Evans, Soyuncu, Chilwell; Tielemans, Ndidi, Maddison, Albrighton, Barnes; Vardy. BRIGHTON

(4-5-1): Ryan; Schelotto, Dunk, Webster, Burn; Propper, Bissouma, Gross, Trossard, Mooy; Maupay. to the Premier League.” Potter does not think the incident will bother Maupay, who has been booked four times this season and picked up nine yellow cards for Championship Brentford last term.

The manager said: “He doesn’t care about what people say or think about him. He’s single-minded, determined for himself, determined for the team.

“He wouldn’t go on to the pitch to hurt anybody but if he has something to say he’ll speak his mind.

“The Leno incident was unfortunate, it can happen on a football pitch, an innocuous coming together. As much as Neal is a competitor, he doesn’t want to go out there and injure people on purpose.”

Guendouzi feared he was going to get a ban and a fine after he grabbed Maupay by the throat.

But referee Martin Atkinson did not see the incident and VAR Michael Oliver did not deem it a red card offence.

Under FA guidelines, the officials are reluctant to “re-referee” games and chose not to step in.

Leno faces a lengthy layoff with the knee injury as medics assess the severity of the ligament damage and whether he has also damaged his cartilage.