We didn’t deserve more than a point – Mikel Arteta content with draw at Brighton
Arsenal were held by the high-flying Seagulls in a drab encounter in the rain.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta was content to escape Brighton with a goalless draw following a lacklustre display from his resurgent side at a rain-soaked Amex Stadium.
High-flying hosts Albion edged a dull Premier League encounter as the Gunners’ three-match winning run was brought to an end.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang headed against the outside of a post for the visitors in the first half but chances were at a premium, with just two attempts on target at each end.
“We did deserve the point because we defended really well the last 15 or 20 metres of our pitch.
“But in the end we never felt in control of the game and we struggled to break their press and get a good sequence of passes and impose ourselves in the final third and they made it really tough for us.”
Victory for Brighton would have moved them level on points with leaders Chelsea.
The home side registered 21 shots in total but the vast majority were wayward, with Leandro Trossard, Dan Burn and Neal Maupay failing to capitalise on decent openings.
Arteta was pleased with his centre-back partnership of Gabriel Magalhaes and Ben White, who was back in Sussex for the first time since his £50million summer transfer.
“They never played together, Gabby is still struggling with the language, and they didn’t have any time to work together in pre-season,” said the Spaniard.
“They gained a really good connection, good chemistry, and I think their qualities match and complement each other really, really well and both of them were terrific.”
Brighton sit fifth with 14 points from seven games following the stalemate, with Arsenal four places and as many points further back.
Albion head coach Graham Potter said: “It’s always a point gained because we didn’t have it at the start.
“The performance was fantastic from the guys, really proud of them, we played with real quality, real courage, real intensity against a top team.
“We went toe to toe, we were brave with what we tried to do and it was a fantastic performance from us.”
Speaking about his team’s inability to make the most of their greater opportunities, he added: “As I’ve said many a time, that’s the hardest bit of the game. It’s a low-scoring game, football.
“We created, we tried; personality, performance, courage, intensity, quality, we had everything.
“I’m just so pleased with them.”
