Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler has criticised Arsenal’s approach to their 1-0 win at the Amex Stadium, saying the visitors wasted time and that “was not football”.
Bukayo Saka scored the only goal of the game in the ninth minute to give Arsenal all three points. But the result was overshadowed by the home side’s frustration at how Arsenal saw out the match.
Hurzeler was unhappy with what he felt were constant delays, pointing to Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya going down injured on multiple occasions.
“Have you seen a goalkeeper go down three times in one game?” Hurzeler said after the match. “I think that says enough. The Premier League has to find a rule because that was not football what Arsenal did today.”
The Brighton boss suggested that the way Arsenal managed the game is not what supporters pay to watch.
“In the end, everyone has to judge their own decision, but I’m sure you don’t like to watch these football games,” he said. “Football fans want to see football games and not a time waste.”
Hurzeler did praise his own team’s supporters but quickly turned the focus back to his side’s performance, insisting they should not spend too much time talking about the opposition.
“We already spoke too much about Arsenal and how they acted today,” he said. “We should focus on us.”
The defeat leaves Brighton in the bottom half of the table, while Arsenal stay in touch with the league leaders after grinding out another win on the road.
Elsewhere, title challengers Manchester City were held to a surprise 2-2 draw at home to a Nottingham Forest side fighting to avoid relegation. The dropped points for City will be seen as a boost for Arsenal in the race at the top.