Arsenal Vs Brighton: 5 things we learned – You have got to be kidding?

3. Injuries strike again

After losing Pablo Mari for the season, Granit Xhaka for several weeks, and already dealing with absences to Sokratis, Lucas Torreira and Calum Chambers, Arsenal added another major injury to the list on Saturday.

Bernd Leno collected a loose ball on the edge of the penalty area. He was challenged by Neal Maupay in the air, perhaps a little late, and fell awkwardly on right leg, twisting his knee as he fell to the ground. He was heard screaming upon his landing and then yelled out in pain as medical staff rushed to deal with the issue.

It remains to be seen how long Leno faces on the sidelines, but it could very easily be a ruptured ligament given the images. That would indicate a timeframe of around a year and would certainly see him miss the remainder of the current season. It is a nasty injury and a huge loss to the team.

Only Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang can hold his head as high as Leno for his performances this season. Emiliano Martinez will now see out the season, and he played well during the final 50 minutes. For Leno, though, we can only wish him a speedy recovery and hope that the injury is not as severe as currently feared.

<p>Here are five things we learned from <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/06/20/arsenal-vs-brighton-5-things-learned-kidding/3/"https://www.bbc.com/sport/live/football/52937365">the disastrous 2-1 defeat</a>.</p> <div id="attachment_102269" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-102269" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/06/20/arsenal-vs-brighton-5-things-learned-kidding/3/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_389,w_590/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1250971397-850x560.jpeg" alt="" width="590" height="389"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">(Photo by Gareth Fuller/Pool via Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h4>5. Guendouzi back to his best</h4> <p><a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/06/20/arsenal-vs-brighton-5-things-learned-kidding/3/"https://paininthearsenal.com/?s=matteo+guendouzi%22>Matteo Guendouzi</a> started once again in a single-pivot holding role at the base of a three-man central midfield. After struggling in that position against Manchester City, pulled in and out of position by Kevin de Bruyne and David Silva, he was back to his best here, dictating play, playing accurate balls forward, and covering the ground defensively well, too.</p> <p>Still only 20, the Frenchman is yet to establish his best position in midfield. Some see he is better-suited further up the pitch in a box-to-box role. Others view him as a holding midfielder, if he can curtail his positional wanderings which undermine his defensive influence at times. Based on this performance, the latter role seems ideal.</p> <p>Guendouzi is superb passer. Like Granit Xhaka, he has a terrific range, playing like a quarterback to spray passes across the pitch. Unlike Xhaka, he receives the ball in tight areas well, can carry the ball forward, and is not as limited athletically either. Guendouzi still has all the tools to develop into an elite defensive midfielder. Performances like this one will only aid his development.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/06/20/arsenal-vs-brighton-5-things-learned-kidding/3/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> 4. Saka a star wherever he plays </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_102268" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-102268" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/06/20/arsenal-vs-brighton-5-things-learned-kidding/3/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_389,w_590/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1221137318-850x560.jpeg" alt="" width="590" height="389"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">(Photo by GARETH FULLER/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h4>4. Saka a star wherever he plays</h4> <p>Mikel Arteta introduced an interesting tactical wrinkle into his set-up on Saturday. Using the 4-3-3 shape that looks very similar to Pep Guardiola’s at Manchester City, he used <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/06/20/arsenal-vs-brighton-5-things-learned-kidding/3/"https://paininthearsenal.com/?s=bukayo+saka%22>Bukayo Saka</a> in a wide-left central midfield role, flanking the holding Guendouzi and largely shuttling up and down the inside-left half-space.</p> <p>However, when Arsenal were in safe possession, Sead Kolasinac would tuck inside from left-back and Saka moved into a wide-left position, oftentimes standing right on the touchline to receive the ball. Alexandre Lacazette’s stooped header and Saka’s crashing shot against the crossbar in the first half both stemmed from these situations.</p> <p>In the first half, he was the best player on the pitch. An 18-year-old bossing a Premier League match. Saka has been a revelation all season long, whether played on the wing, at left-back, or now in central midfield. He is a star. There is only one small problem: his pesky contract.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/06/20/arsenal-vs-brighton-5-things-learned-kidding/3/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> 3. Injuries strike again </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_102253" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-102253" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/06/20/arsenal-vs-brighton-5-things-learned-kidding/3/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_389,w_590/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1221136825-850x560.jpeg" alt="" width="590" height="389"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">(Photo by GARETH FULLER/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h4>3. Injuries strike again</h4> <p>After losing Pablo Mari for the season, Granit Xhaka for several weeks, and already dealing with absences to Sokratis, Lucas Torreira and Calum Chambers, Arsenal added another major injury to the list on Saturday.</p> <div class="recent-posts "> <h4>More from <b>Pain in the Arsenal</b></h4> <ul> <li> <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/06/20/arsenal-vs-brighton-5-things-learned-kidding/3/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/11/10/arsenal-interest-miguel-gutierrez-girona/"> Fabrizio Romano confirms Arsenal interest in Girona star </a> </li><li> <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/06/20/arsenal-vs-brighton-5-things-learned-kidding/3/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/11/10/when-will-martin-odegaard-return-from-his-injury/"> When will Martin Odegaard return from his injury? </a> </li><li> <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/06/20/arsenal-vs-brighton-5-things-learned-kidding/3/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/11/10/2-midfielders-arsenal-could-sign-in-january-transfer-window/"> 2 midfielders Arsenal could sign in January transfer window </a> </li><li> <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/06/20/arsenal-vs-brighton-5-things-learned-kidding/3/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/11/10/thomas-partey-unlikely-to-play-for-arsenal-again-in-2023/"> Thomas Partey unlikely to play for Arsenal again in 2023 </a> </li><li> <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/06/20/arsenal-vs-brighton-5-things-learned-kidding/3/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/11/10/predicted-arsenal-lineup-vs-burnley-saka-fit-to-start/"> Predicted Arsenal lineup vs Burnley: Saka fit to start? </a> </li></ul> </div> <p><a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/06/20/arsenal-vs-brighton-5-things-learned-kidding/3/"https://paininthearsenal.com/?s=bernd+leno%22>Bernd Leno</a> collected a loose ball on the edge of the penalty area. He was challenged by Neal Maupay in the air, perhaps a little late, and fell awkwardly on right leg, twisting his knee as he fell to the ground. He was heard screaming upon his landing and then yelled out in pain as medical staff rushed to deal with the issue.</p> <p>It remains to be seen how long Leno faces on the sidelines, but it could very easily be a ruptured ligament given the images. That would indicate a timeframe of around a year and would certainly see him miss the remainder of the current season. It is a nasty injury and a huge loss to the team.</p> <p>Only Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang can hold his head as high as Leno for his performances this season. Emiliano Martinez will now see out the season, and he played well during the final 50 minutes. For Leno, though, we can only wish him a speedy recovery and hope that the injury is not as severe as currently feared.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/06/20/arsenal-vs-brighton-5-things-learned-kidding/3/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> 2. That is the £72 million Nicolas Pepe </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_102266" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-102266" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/06/20/arsenal-vs-brighton-5-things-learned-kidding/3/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_389,w_590/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1250981764-850x560.jpeg" alt="" width="590" height="389"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">(Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h4>2. That is the £72 million Nicolas Pepe</h4> <p>If there was one major positive to take from Arsenal’s 2-1 defeat to Brighton, it was both the performance of and singular moment of quality from<a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/06/20/arsenal-vs-brighton-5-things-learned-kidding/3/"https://paininthearsenal.com/?s=nicolas+pepe%22> Nicolas Pepe</a>, who finally started to look like the £72 million player that the club signed last summer.</p> <p>This was one of Pepe’s best performances for the club. Routinely isolated against Brighton left-back Dan Burn, he gave him the runaround in the first half, beating him with ease almost every time he received the ball. He was the team’s primary outlet, drove into the penalty area, and won several freekicks. Then, in the second half, he produced the best moment of the match, picking up the ball just inside the penalty area and bending a lovely left-footed strike into the far corner.</p> <p>Mikel Arteta was harsh on Pepe in the week, demanding that he produce on a more consistent basis. After not playing a single minute against City on Wednesday, he started here and responded well. Hopefully this will be the start of something special for Arsenal and Nicolas Pepe.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/06/20/arsenal-vs-brighton-5-things-learned-kidding/3/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> 1. Does Champions League hope finished? </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_102285" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-102285" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/06/20/arsenal-vs-brighton-5-things-learned-kidding/3/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_389,w_590/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1221137177-850x560.jpeg" alt="" width="590" height="389"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">(Photo by GARETH FULLER/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h4>1. Does Champions League hope finished?</h4> <p>When the Premier League season resumed, Arsenal harboured slim hopes of making a run at the Champions League places. They sat five points behind Manchester United with a game-in-hand. They initially lost that game in hand to Manchester City on Wednesday night, but entering Saturday’s match against Brighton, they still had a chance to make a strong start to the campaign’s resumption.</p><div class="widget fs_ads"> <div class="fs_ad_widget-ad" style="margin:0 auto; width: 300px;"> <div class="fs-ll-ad" data-ad-type="minutemedia_slideshow_inline_300x250__desktop__tablet" data-vendor="minutemedia"> <div id="minutemedia_slideshow_inline_300x250__desktop__tablet" data-position="slideshow_inline" data-slot="inline_102252" style="width:300px;margin: 0 auto;"> <script> googletag.cmd.push(function () { googletag.defineSlot("/175840252/fansided.com/PainintheArsenal/mpu",[300, 250], "minutemedia_slideshow_inline_300x250__desktop__tablet") .addService(googletag.pubads()); googletag.enableServices(); googletag.display("minutemedia_slideshow_inline_300x250__desktop__tablet"); }); </script> </div> </div> </div> </div> <p>After Spurs and United drew 1-1 on Friday, with a victory, Arsenal would move above Spurs and to within three points of fifth place. At that point, the race is very much on. How different things look now. After a last-gasp defeat, however, the table paints a very different picture.</p> <p>Arsenal are now six points behind United. Wolves and Sheffield United can pull six and seven points clear of them too with wins later this weekend. Chelsea can move to an uncatchable 11 points clear. It is very difficult to see how the Gunners can rescue their season from this point.</p> <div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="StoryLink" data-theme="dark" data-text="Arsenal Vs Brighton: Player ratings" data-url="https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/06/20/arsenal-vs-brighton-player-ratings-3/" data-call-to-action="Next"> <div class="story-link-next"> <a class="story-link-next-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="story-link-next-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/06/20/arsenal-vs-brighton-5-things-learned-kidding/3/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/06/20/arsenal-vs-brighton-player-ratings-3/"> <span class="call_to_action">Next:</span> Arsenal Vs Brighton: Player ratings </a> </div> </div> <p>The Champions League was always a tentative hope. What was much more important was that the team showed progress under Mikel Arteta. Nevertheless, those that believed that Arsenal could yet haul their way out of their own pit of despair will surely have lost all hope now. This was an utter disaster.<code></code></p><!—pageview_candidate—></p>">