Back to glory as Albion ruins Arsenal's Premiership chances
A L B I O N R E P O R T - ( 29 )
14 MAY 2023 -
ARSENAL 0 BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION 3
( Julio Enciso 1 Deniz Undav 1 Pervis Estupinan 1 ) -
PREMIER LEAGUE - at the EMIRATES STADIUM, LONDON N5.
After their surprise 1-5 defeat at home to Everton on the 8 May, the Albion were off to North London to meet Arsenal in a Premier League encounter, "live" in front of the Sky Sports cameras and over the airwaves on BBC Radio 5 Live, BBC Radio Sussex Sport and the BBC World Service.
Albion's 1-5 home defeat to Everton in the Premier on the 8 May was a real shock and for their visit to the Emirates Stadium Albion Head Coach Roberto De Zerbi made four changes to his starting line-up from that game, with Levi Colwill, Billy Gilmour, Julio Enciso and Evan Ferguson coming in for Adam Webster (injured), Facundo Buonanotte, Deniz Undav and Danny Welbeck, the latter three dropping down to the substitutes bench.
This was the Seagulls second visit to the Emirates Stadium this season, having previously gone there on the 9 November 2022 in the Third Round of the Carabao Cup when the Albion pulled-off a surprise 3-1 win, with their goals coming from Danny Welbeck, penalty (27m), Kaoru Mitoma (58m) and Tariq Lamptey (71m), after Eddie Nketiah (20m) had opened the scoring for the Gunners.
In the reverse fixture in the Premier at the Amex on the 31 December 2022, the Arsenal ran out 4-2 winners, with their goals coming from Bukayo Saka (2m), Martin Odegaard (39m), Eddie Nketiah (47m) and Gabriel Martinelli (71m). Albion's goals were scored by Kaoru Mitoma (65m) and Evan Ferguson (77m).
Last season in the Premier, the teams drew 0-0 at the Amex on the 2 October 2021 and in the return fixture at the Emirates Stadium on the 9 April 2022, the Albion won 2-1, with their goals coming from Leandro Trossard (28m) and Enock Mwepu (68m) and Martin Odegaard (89m) netting a late consolation for the Arsenal.
The opening minutes saw two strong challenges, first Arsenal's Gabriel Martinelli took out Kaoru Mitoma in a robust mid-air challenge, which went unpunished, then Albion's Moises Caicedo brought down Martinelli with a tough tackle by way of retribution. Eventually the injured Martinelli was replaced by former Albion striker Leandro Trossard by way of substitution in the 20th minute.
The first real chance of the game fell to Julio Enciso whose shot was deflected over the bar by Arsenal keeper Aaron Ramsdale. There were a couple of close calls at the other end when Arsenal Captain Martin Odegaard saw his shot flash a yard wide and a volley by Gabriel Jesus was saved by Albion keeper Jason Steele.
Trossard then went close for the hosts when he pounced on a loose ball before firing in a shot which hit the crossbar before bouncing over. A fine run by Mitoma ended with Enciso firing over from close-in. The last action of the opening-half saw Arsenal's Bukayo Saka send a volley narrowly wide of the target.
Half-time 0-0.
The Seagulls took the lead on 51 minutes when Mitoma and Pervis Estupinan combined down the left and the latter's cross found the lively Enciso in the box and the Paraguayan sent a header into the net from close-range. 1-0.
Reiss Nelson went close for the Arsenal with a snap shot which missed the far post by a whisker and a shot by Trossard was saved by Steele. Alexis Mac Allister then tried his luck from distance and Ramsdale was relieved to see the Argentinian's shot miss the target.
Albion's second arrived on 86 minutes when Trossard's flick from Ramsdale's pass-out was intercepted by Pascal Gross whose pass found Deniz Undav in acres of space and the substitute's exquisite lob over Ramsdale ended up in the net. 2-0.
In time added on, things got even better for the Seagulls when Undav's piledriver was parried by Ramsdale into the path of the marauding Estupinan who gleefully smashed the ball past Ramdale for Albion's third goal. It was Estupinan's first Premier League goal for the Albion. 3-0. A stunning second-half performance by the Albion.
Final-score 3-0.
Stats: Albion had 12 shots at goal, with 6 on target and won 2 corners, free-kicks conceded - 17.
Arsenal had 14 shots at goal, with 2 on target and won 5 corners, free-kicks conceded - 13.
TO SUM UP - A superb second-half performance by the Albion saw them continue their recent excellent record at the Emirates Stadium. A number of Albion players enhanced their reputations in this win, namely Moises Caicedo, Pervis Estupinan and Kaoru Mitoma. European football looms even closer for next season.
Albion line-up (4-2-3-1):- Jason Steele; Moises Caicedo, Lewis Dunk (Capt), Levi Colwill, Pervis Estupinan; Pascal Gross, Billy Gilmour (Danny Welbeck 60); Kaoru Mitoma, Alexis Mac Allister, Julio Enciso (Deniz Undav 82); Evan Ferguson (Facundo Buonanotte 77).
Subs not used: Tom McGill (G/K), Jan Paul Van Hecke, Yasin Ayari, Odeluga Offiah, Andrew Moran, Cameron Peupion.
Arsenal line-up (4-3-3):- Aaron Ramsdale; Ben White, Jakub KIwior, Gabriel Magalhaes, Kieran Tierney; Martin Odegaard (Capt) (Emile Smith Rowe 77), Jorginho (Thomas Partey 60), Granit Xhaka (Reiss Nelson 60); Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Jesus (Eddie Nketiah 77), Gabriel Martinelli (Leandro Trossard 20).
Subs not used: Matt Turner (G/K), Rob Holding, Fabio Vieira, Reuell Walters.
Referee: Andy Madley (West Yorkshire).
Assistant Referees: Constantine Hatzidakis, Nick Hopton.
Fourth Official: Darren England.
VAR Official: Peter Bankes. Assistant VAR Official: Wade Smith.
Yellow Cards: Albion: 2 - Pervis Estupinan, Pascal Gross.
Arsenal: 1Thomas Partey.
Possession: Albion - 59%. Arsenal - 41%.
BBC Sport Player of the Match: Lewis Dunk (Albion).
Attendance: 60139.
NEXT MATCH:
18 MAY 2023 - NEWCASTLE UNITED - away - Premier League - kick-off 19.30. "Live" on Sky Sports.
Jack Kaye