Hurzeler: What Arsenal did today was not football

Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler accused Arsenal of undermining the spectacle after his side’s 1-0 defeat at the Amex Stadium, claiming the visitors’ approach “was not football”.

Arsenal secured the points and went seven points clear at the top of the Premier League table through a deflected effort from Bukayo Saka and spent long periods absorbing pressure, with Brighton creating the clearer openings but failing to convert.

The home crowd grew increasingly vocal as the match wore on, frustrated by what they felt were repeated delays to restarts.

Hurzeler shared that frustration after the match.

“The Premier League has to find a rule because that was not football what Arsenal did today,” he said.

“Have you seen a goalkeeper go down three times in one game? I think that says enough.”

Brighton had opportunities to take control, including a moment when David Raya’s error almost gifted them an early lead before Gabriel intervened.

In the second half, a series of headers and deliveries into the box went unfinished.

Reflecting on the missed chances, Hurzeler said: “In the second half we had two, three chances good headers, good crossers. We didn’t finish. It was the only thing we missed today. We created a lot of chances. They had one shot on goal. Overall good performance, really good effort from my team.

“We found a lot of solutions against them. We created a lot and we weren’t that clean in the final third. If we were more clean, more calm in the final third we could’ve created more. I think we can still do better.”

The Brighton head coach was also seen in discussion with the fourth official during the closing stages as the tempo slowed further.

On the crowd’s reaction to Arsenal’s game management, he said: “No words needed for that, for Arsenal. Everyone can judge on their own. I’m really fan of how our fans supported us. In the end, everyone has to judge their own decision but I’m sure you don’t like to watch these football games.

“I made my point and I think it’s a fair point because in the end football fans want to see football games and not a time of waste. We already spoke too much about Arsenal and how they acted today. We should focus on us.”

Mikel Arteta was notified of Hurzeler’s comments in his own press conference, to which he simply replied: “What a surprise”.