Match report: Arsenal 1-2 Brighton

1 2

By Rob Kelly at Emirates Stadium

WHAT HAPPENED

We were beaten by Brighton on another frustrating night at Emirates Stadium.

In Freddie Ljungberg’s first home match in charge since becoming our interim head coach, we made a bright start – but soon the visitors started to take control.

Neal Maupay fired one shot across the face of goal that somehow evaded the foot of Aaron Connolly, before Bern Leno was called into action to deny the former after he took aim from distance.

Our goalkeeper was called upon again soon afterwards to palm away Davy Propper’s shot, but two minutes later the Seagulls took the lead when Adam Webster poked in after a scramble in the area.

Joe Willock had a close-range header saved by Mat Ryan before the interval, but having been unable to make the breakthrough, Ljungberg brought on Nicolas Pepe for the second half.

We needed more, and we soon got it as Alex Lacazette equalised, meeting a corner and send a looping header to the back post where it just crept in.

Game on.

The crowd responded as we continued to drive forward and threaten, although Brighton were dangerous on the break and we were again indebted to Leno as he denied Maupay from close range.

David Luiz soon had a goal disallowed for offside after a VAR check, before the visitors retook the lead when Mooy crossed for Maupay to head into the far corner.

Gabriel Martinelli came close with a glancing header than Mat Ryan did well to palm away as the game neared stoppage time, while Nicolas Pepe saw a free kick fly inches wide.

But there was no way through, and our winless run in the Premier League extended to nine games.