Squad worry for Arteta as Arsenal wilt
THIS was not how Mikel Arteta wanted to sign- off from the Emirates for the next few weeks.
There has not been much reason for Arsenal supporters to grow irritable and impatient here of late — nine straight home victories have underpinned their brilliant campaign.
This defeat does not undo all that good work. In fact, more fixtures is probably the last thing Arteta needs. Particularly when so many fringe players continue to pass up opportunities to prove their worth.
Last night, this much- changed Arsenal were dumped out by Brighton — who are starting to click under Roberto De Zerbi. Six matches it took the Italian to secure his first win. He now has three in three and this was another mightily encouraging display.
Though both managers shuffled their pack, it was Brighton who were the more slick, fluid side. The visitors fell behind to Eddie Nketiah’s 11th goal in 12 Carabao Cup appearances, only to battle back with a helping hand from Arsenal’s debutant goalkeeper Karl Hein.
His slip and foul allowed Danny Welbeck to equalise from the spot. Then, after the break, Kaoru Mitoma and Tariq Lamptey sent Brighton into round four.
‘Losing is disappointing,’ Arteta admitted. ‘But the way the boys played with the changes that we had to make… I’m really happy with that.
‘The squad is very, very short. We have tried to manage that in the best possible situation. It’s the same when we win, so no excuses.’
This tie came to life midway through the first half, and bleeding through it all? Arsenal’s Hale End academy. First, Reiss Nelson drove 50 yards towards the Brighton area, then he found fellow graduate Nketiah, who curled the ball brilliantly into the far corner.
If that served as an advert for the confidence and technique bred into young Arsenal players, pity poor Hein, whose first contribution was an exhibition in misfortune and miscalculation. The 2 0 - y e a r- o l d slipped as Welbeck chased a through-ball. He climbed to his feet, only to trip the former Arsenal forward, and Welbeck scored the penalty. Parity was the least Brighton deserved. They had started the quicker, with Jeremy Sarmiento and Julio Enciso particularly bright.
They struck again on the hour. Following more good work by Sarmiento, half-time substitute Mitoma curled home from a nearidentical position to Nketiah.
Victory was secured by Lamptey who, with 19 minutes to go, drove into the box and slid the ball past Hein from a tight angle.
‘We can play better,’ insisted De Zerbi. ‘We made mistakes, but I’m happy with this win.’
ARSENAL (4-3-3): Hein 5; Cedric 6, Saliba 7 (Gabriel 63min, 6), Holding 6, Tierney 6.5 (Zinchenko 72, 6); Vieira 5 (Jesus 72, 6), Elneny 6.5, Lokonga 6 (Xhaka 80); Marquinhos 5 (Martinelli 62, 6.5), Nketiah 7, Nelson 7.
Scorer: Nketiah 20. Booked: Hein, Elneny. Manager: Mikel Arteta 5.
BRIGHTON (4-4-2): Steele 7; Veltman 6, Dunk 6.5 (Webster 60, 7), Colwill 6.5, Lamptey 7.5; March 6 ( MITOMA 46, 8), Caicedo 7 (Gross 46, 6), Gilmour 7, Sarmiento 7.5 (Undav 79); Enciso 7.5 (Estupinan 76), Welbeck 7.5. Scorers: Welbeck 27 (pen), Mitoma 58, Lamptey 71. Booked: Caicedo, Sarmiento, Mitoma. Manager: Roberto De Zerbi 7. Referee: Jarred Gillett 6.
Attendance: Not provided.