3 positives & negatives from Arsenal’s 4-2 win over Brighton

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<p>— Cannon Stats (@CannonStats) <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/01/01/3-positives-negatives-arsenal-4-2-win-over-brighton/2/"https://twitter.com/CannonStats/status/1609271330805010432?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>December 31, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p><script async src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/01/01/3-positives-negatives-arsenal-4-2-win-over-brighton/2/"https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></div> <p>Credit to the Seagulls for making the match interesting, but Arsenal were in cruise control – much to their own detriment at times.</p> <p><em>Continued on the next slide…</em></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/2023/01/01/3-positives-negatives-arsenal-4-2-win-over-brighton/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> #2 positive &amp; negative </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><h2>Positive #2: Eddie’s run continues</h2> <div id="attachment_131455" class="wp-caption alignnone"> <img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-131455 size-full" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/01/01/3-positives-negatives-arsenal-4-2-win-over-brighton/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2133,w_3200/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1453496231.jpeg" alt="" width="3200" height="2133" srcset="https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1453496231.jpeg 3200w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1453496231-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><p class="wp-caption-text">Eddie Nketiah tapped home Arsenal’s third. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)</p> </div> <p>I’m taking my chance here to gloat. I have always had so much trust in Eddie Nketiah, and I’m thrilled to see him thriving in Gabriel Jesus’ absence.</p> <p>That’s now three goals in Eddie’s last three starts, and he’s going to keep rolling. He got a classic goal with a deflection in the six-yard box falling at his feet. Outside of the goal, it was even more of the same; a great performance by pressing high, getting involved with build-up, and being able to out-muscle players.</p> <p>He has been fantastic, and there’s no doubt in my mind that he can keep this going in Jesus’ absence.</p> <h2>Negative #2: Sloppiness</h2> <div id="attachment_131456" class="wp-caption alignnone"> <img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-131456 size-full" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/01/01/3-positives-negatives-arsenal-4-2-win-over-brighton/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2133,w_3200/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1245903905.jpeg" alt="" width="3200" height="2133" srcset="https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1245903905.jpeg 3200w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1245903905-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><p class="wp-caption-text">A William Saliba error allowed Evan Ferguson to swoop. (Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images)</p> </div> <p>Arsenal conceded two in this match, and that’s something that needs to be improved upon. Takehiro Tomiyasu and William Saliba, in particular, still seem to be shaking off the World Cup rust. For Brighton’s second, Saliba didn’t cover himself in glory with a deplorable mistake that was capitalised on. He also had a mistake in the West Ham game, so he will need to shake off that rust quickly.</p> <p>The Frenchman is still only 21 and will make mistakes, but he will be okay; he just needs to clean things up.</p> <p><em>Continued on the next slide…</em></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/2023/01/01/3-positives-negatives-arsenal-4-2-win-over-brighton/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> #3 positive &amp; negative </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><h2>Positive #3: Seizing opportunities</h2> <div id="attachment_131445" class="wp-caption alignnone"> <img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-131445 size-full" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/01/01/3-positives-negatives-arsenal-4-2-win-over-brighton/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2132,w_3200/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1245902821.jpeg" alt="" width="3200" height="2132" srcset="https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1245902821.jpeg 3200w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1245902821-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><p class="wp-caption-text">Bukayo Saka got Arsenal off to the perfect start. (Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images)</p> </div> <p>Arsenal were given a few opportunities before the game that they could capitalise on, with both Manchester City and Newcastle dropping points. They could extend their four-point lead to seven with a win, and win they did. They took their opportunities in the match, scoring many in a game that has often been a spooky one for Arsenal in past years.</p> <p>This team has it in them; they’re the real deal.</p> <h2>Negative #3: Options off the bench</h2> <div id="attachment_131457" class="wp-caption alignnone"> <img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-131457 size-full" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/01/01/3-positives-negatives-arsenal-4-2-win-over-brighton/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2150,w_3200/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1453503197.jpeg" alt="" width="3200" height="2150" srcset="https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1453503197.jpeg 3200w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1453503197-768x516.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><p class="wp-caption-text">Kieran Tierney was one of four substitutes introduced. (Photo by Steve Bardens/Getty Images)</p> </div> <p>Kieran Tierney, Tomiyasu, Mohamed Elneny, and Rob Holding were Arsenal’s men off the bench on Saturday. Not to discount these players at all, who are all very good at what they do, but Arsenal must get better options to finish games, particularly in attack.</p> <p>The return of Emile Smith Rowe will help the Gunners but investing in a player like Mykhaylo Mudryk will be huge for the attack late in matches to close it out.</p> <div class="embed "> <blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="XaPrPcphXZ"><p><a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/01/01/3-positives-negatives-arsenal-4-2-win-over-brighton/2/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/12/31/brighton-2-4-arsenal-player-ratings/">Brighton 2-4 Arsenal: Player ratings as Gunners end 2022 seven points clear</a></p></blockquote> <p><iframe class="wp-embedded-content" sandbox="allow-scripts" security="restricted" style="position: absolute; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px);" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/01/01/3-positives-negatives-arsenal-4-2-win-over-brighton/2/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/12/31/brighton-2-4-arsenal-player-ratings/embed/#?secret=XaPrPcphXZ" data-secret="XaPrPcphXZ" width="500" height="282" title="“Brighton 2-4 Arsenal: Player ratings as Gunners end 2022 seven points clear” — Pain in the Arsenal" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></p></div> <p>Arsenal are seven points clear! Happy New Year!</p><!—pageview_candidate—>">