Arsenal failed to put the pressure on Premier League leaders Liverpool when drawing away to Brighton last night as Mikel Arteta left surprised by penalty decision
Arsenal dropped two points in the title race as they were held to a 1-1 draw against Brighton on Saturday night – giving Liverpool a chance to go eight points clear on Sunday.
The Gunners were missing five key players and Mikel Arteta’s side struggled for quality against the Seagulls. They did get off to a great start thanks to Ethan Nwaneri’s first half strike but Joao Pedro struck from the penalty spot after a controversial decision to frustrate the away side.
It was far from a vintage display from Arsenal and there is much work to do ahead of some tough games coming up against Newcastle, Manchester United and Tottenham.
And that raises fresh questions around whether Arsenal need to add a new striker this month in the transfer window.
Nwaneri alternative
For Arsenal the opening days of January have, again, been framed around whether they need a prolific goalscorer to get them over the line.
And on an evening when Mikel Arteta’s team dropped two more points in a title race that is not far from over, there was both evidence that a prolific No9 is a more pressing requirement than ever and that the long-term solution might be right under their eyes.
Ethan Nwaneri is raw and needs plenty of finessing but his 16th-minute opener, cancelled out by Joao Pedro’s debatable penalty after just over an hour, provided another glimpse of a youngster who Arteta believes could eventually be converted into a striker.
And how they need it as Gabriel Jesus produced an anonymous performance on the south coast to quieten talk of the Brazilian discovering a level of form that could help Arsenal to reel in Liverpool, who remain five points clear with two games in hand before facing Manchester United on Sunday.
But is Nwaneri really the future at centre-forward?
Penalty controversy
Mikel Arteta said he had never seen such a penalty awarded and the decision seemed to split opinion online with Arsenal fans reacting furiously.
But the call was double checked by VAR with the Premier League confirming in a statement that there was sufficient contact between William Saliba and Joao Pedro to warrant a penalty.
Their statement read: “The referee’s call of penalty for a foul by Saliba on João Pedro was checked and confirmed by VAR, who deemed there was sufficient contact for a penalty.”
Striker decision
Speaking before the game Mikel Arteta insisted Arsenal can win the Premier League title this season even if they don’t sign a new striker this month.
The Gunners have finished as runners-up behind Manchester City for the last two seasons having falling agonisingly short. And Arteta’s men have been accused again of lacking the firepower to get them over the line this time around.
Top scorer Kai Havertz has only netted seven times but Gabriel Jesus’ return to form has boosted Arsenal ’s bid to close the gap on Liverpool. Jesus’ hot streak has also reduced the pressure on Arsenal to bolster in January, despite Arteta being urged to push the boat out to compete with the free-scoring leaders.
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