Pascal Gross has sided together with his manager Fabian Hurzeler and questioned whether fan shall be turned off football is Arsenal are allowed to get away with their time wasting tactics.
Mikel Arteta was defiant within the face of accusations that his side were guilty of faking injuries after a 1-0 win sent them seven points clear at the highest of the Premier League.
The visitors were poor on the Amex Stadium and their goal had greater than a stroke of fortune as Bukayo Saka’s shot within the ninth minute bamboozled Bart Verbruggen.
Thereafter Brighton were frustrated by Arsenal’s habit of delaying the restart of the sport at free-kicks, while David Raya went down injured on three separate occasions and required treatment on the pitch, leading head coach Fabian Hurzeler to accuse the visitors of ‘making their very own rules’.
Arteta though made it clear he was unmoved after a dogged win, coupled with Manchester City’s draw with Nottingham Forest, ensured they took a firm grip of the title race.
‘What a surprise,’ he said when informed of Hurzeler’s claims. ‘In case you return through previous games you’ll find numerous comments like this, at all times.
‘I like my players. That’s the highlight. I like my players and I like the way in which we compete. Whenever you’re within the position we’re in, obviously (opposition fans) wish to take that away from you. That’s normal, that’s sport.’
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Asked whether he cared what other league managers considered him and his team, he replied: ‘No comment.’
Brighton largely dominated the sport but neither side created many probabilities. Arsenal were a good distance from at their best, careless with the ball and too accommodating in letting Brighton play through them in midfield.
Nevertheless, they dug in for a 3rd league win in a row, and on an evening when City dropped points at home this was yet one more fixture crossed out of their Premier League title push.
Afterwards Hurzeler gave a coruscating assessment of the league leaders.
‘I feel there was just one team that attempted to play football today,’ the Brighton boss said. ‘Did you see in a Premier League game a goalkeeper taking place the times? No?
‘We shouldn’t waste too many words about that tonight. We are able to’t control these type of things. The Premier League has to search out a rule.
‘In the long run it’s in regards to the rules. If the Premier League and referee allow every part, then it’s difficult. They make their very own rules. In the meanwhile I even have the sensation they’re doing their very own rules.’
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Gross, meanwhile, agreed together with his compatriot who was frustrated his side didn’t get anything out of a contest they held the upper-hand in for giant parts.
He said: ‘Within the second half, we had two or three probabilities. We didn’t finish the attack; it’s the one thing we missed today.
‘We found numerous solutions against them. We created so much. It wasn’t the case today, so we’re upset that we outplayed them.
‘No words needed for that for Arsenal. I said my opinion on it. Everyone could make their very own decision, but I’m sure you don’t like to look at these football games. Football fans wish to see a football game, not time-wasting.’
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