Arsenal suffer double tragedy courtesy of Brighton’s Maupay
- Arsenal lose to Brighton in stoppage time
- Bernd Leno suffered a knee injury after a shove from the striker
- Result dims Arsenal’s chances of European competition
- Mental Health and Psychosocial considerations during the COVID-19 pandemic
Arsenal suffer double loss at Brighton as they lose the match and Bernd Leno to a knee injury.
Arsenal traveled to Amex Stadium looking to return to winning ways after mid-week’s drubbing at Manchester City.
Alexandre Lacazette and Nicolas Pepe replaced Eddie Nketiah and Bukayo Saka in attack as Mikel Arteta went searching for three crucial and needed points.
Arsenal began brightly with Aubameyang and Lacazette testing Matt Ryan in the first half. Bukayo Saka hit the woodwork and looked the better side in terms of chances and ball possession.
Late in the first half, Arsenal’s goalkeeper jumped for a ball and was shoved by Brighton’s striker Neal Maupay. Leno fell and let out a cry of pain. Rewind clips showed the German dropping awkwardly on his right leg, with his right knee appearing to hyperextend as he hit the gound.
The German was stretchered off and was utterly livid with the Maupay.
Despite Leno’s early injury, the Gunners took the lead in the second half courtesy of Nicolas Pepe in the 68th minute.
The Ivorian picked up a pass from Bukayo Saka, who was deployed in midfield alongside Guendouzi and Dani Ceballos, and curled a sublime effort that Matt Ryan could not get to.
It was the Ivorian’s fourth Premier League goal for the Gunners and appeared to have won the match for the North London side.
The Seagulls equalized 15 minutes from time after Lewis Dunk found himself some space in penalty box after Arsenal failed to clear a corner kick.
Things would turn bad to worse in the fifth and final minute of injury time.
Maupay would add salt to the wound in Arsenal when he grabbed the winner after he allowed a ball from substitute Alexis MacAllister to run through his legs and then ran to Aaron Connolly’s pass.
He got to the ball before Martinez and lifted it expertly over him and into the net to seal victory.
Arsenal players were broken. So much it was that Guendouzi appeared to grab Maupay by the neck. A melee ensued with the players shoving back and forth.
Referee Martin Atkinson watched before he directed Guendouzi towards the tunnel while Maupay was held back before he was again verbally confronted, this time by Arsenal full-back Sead Kolasinac.
The result leaves Mikel Arteta five points behind fifth placed Manchester United and with a dressing room shattered of confidence, broken by injury as Leno joined Pablo Mari, Lucas Torreira and Granit Xhaka on the injured list.
Gunners next fixture is away to Southampton on Tuesday.
