Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has praised the job that Roberto De Zerbi has done at Brighton & Hove Albion ahead of today’s clash at the Emirates.
After dropping points against Aston Villa last weekend and losing top spot in the Premier League, Arsenal are aiming to get back to winning ways against Brighton this weekend.
It doesn’t promise to be an easy task for the Gunners, though. The Seagulls are unbeaten at the Emirates since May 2021 and are looking to secure their fourth straight victory in this fixture.
Brighton also arrive on the back of an impressive 1-0 win over Marseille in the Europa League as they finished top of Group B and booked their place in the knockout stages.
Having finished in sixth place last season and brought European football to the Amex for the very first time, De Zerbi deserves huge plaudits for the job he’s done.
And in his pre-match press conference, Mikel Arteta has dropped glowing praise for the Italian.
What has Mikel Arteta said about Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi?
Arteta and De Zerbi are two of the most talented young managers in the modern game with both deploying styles that are refreshing to watch.
As such, the Spaniard has shown his respect to the man in the opposite dugout and offered glowing praise for Brighton’s efficiency in possession.
He said: “They are a really good side,” he said in his pre-match press conference. “Last year when we had the game under control was when we conceded a goal and then the game completely broke up and we struggled, especially in the last 15 minutes of the game, so we have to play better and be very efficient, which is key against them.
“They are really good – they have really good players and their way of playing is very specific and causes you problems. They were very efficient. Efficiency in football is key and on that day, they were more efficient than us.”
Brighton outclassed Arsenal at the Emirates in May but this was at a time when the Gunners knew they couldn’t win the Premier League title.
Now they have an opportunity to extend the gap between them and Manchester City to five after Pep Guardiola’s side dropped points at home to Crystal Palace.
Arsenal can punish a leaky Brighton
For all of their excellent attacking play, spearheaded by the sensational Evan Ferguson, Brighton are weak defensively and Arsenal can capitalise.
In the Premier League this season, the Seagulls have shipped 28 goals, 16 of which have come on their travels.
It is clear that their front-foot, attacking style exposes gaps at the back and that’s where Gabriel Martinelli and co can take advantage
The Brazilian possesses the pace and clever movement to make inroads down the left flank while Bukayo Saka can terrorise the Brighton full-back on the other side.
Given at least three goals have been scored in the four previous times these two sides have met, a mouth-watering clash awaits.
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