Arsenal analysis: Arsene Wenger mutiny grows louder as fans suffer more away-day blues in Brighton

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James Olley4 March 2018

Brighton recorded a shock 2-1 Premier League win over Arsenal at the Amex Stadium on Sunday to heap more pressure on Arsene Wenger.

Wenger's men were outplayed in the first period as Brighton earned a 2-1 lead at half-time.

Lewis Dunk turned in a seventh-minute opener before Glenn Murray headed home his sixth goal in as many games 19 minutes later.

But, after loud cries of 'Wenger out' from the visiting fans, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang gave the Gunners some hope when he flicked home from close range two minutes before half-time.

But Brighton held on in the second half to record a 2-1 win and consign Wenger's men to four straight defeats in all competitions and they sit 13 points off the top four.

James Olley assesses the key talking points in Brighton...

Wenger mutiny grows ever louder

Rex Features

The chant was only brief but it sounded louder than ever before. “We want Wenger out,” sang a section of travelling supporters midway through a disastrous first-half only partially salvaged by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s 43rd-minute reply.

It took 28 minutes for the first ‘Wenger Out’ banner to be unfurled and although Arsenal improved in the second half, this is a result that will only increase the pressure on Wenger and a board still seemingly refusing to believe change is necessary.

While mitigation could be found in two defeats against Manchester City given their form under Pep Guardiola this season, there was no such excuse here at the Amex Stadium on what was probably the day any lingering top four hopes died.

Away day misery continues

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Only West Ham, Huddersfield, Stoke, Everton and West Brom have lost more Premier League games on the road this season than Arsenal after their eighth defeat of the campaign.

It has been their Achilles heel all season and the list of teams to have got the better of them is littered with games that, on paper at least, the Gunners would be expected to win: Stoke, Liverpool, Watford, Man City, Bournemouth, Swansea, Tottenham and now Brighton.

Perhaps even more surprisingly, they have scored (16) fewer than half the number Liverpool (34) and Manchester City (32) have notched in away games this season.

Set-piece issues add to defensive woes

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Arsenal habitually mark zonally from corners but Brighton, who are not renowned for their set-piece prowess, caused all sorts of problems, particularly in the first half.

Petr Cech was beaten in the air by Shane Duffy in trying to meet Pascal Gross’ seventh-minute corner, leaving Lewis Dunk with the chance to fire home from close range.

Arsenal were on the back foot thereafter and familiar vulnerabilities appeared again: Laurent Koscielny gifted Brighton possession and Gross crossed again for Glenn Murray, unmarked in the box, to head past Cech, who again could have done better.

Brighton wasted more headed opportunities before Arsenal rallied - but they made their task much harder than it needed to be once again.

Wenger has one eye on the Europa League

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The Arsenal boss described Thursday’s 3-0 home defeat to Manchester City as the most physically demanding game of the season and so it was perhaps not surprising he refreshed his starting line-up here, particularly given the forthcoming Europa League tie against AC Milan.

That competition is the Gunners’ best hope of qualifying for the Champions League and Wenger opted to leave out Hector Bellerin - who had played every minute in the Premier League this season until today - bar a late substitute appearance and Aaron Ramsey following his recent return from a groin injury.

Danny Welbeck was restricted to a 16-minute cameo given he will lead the attack in Italy with Aubameyang ineligible and Alexandre Lacazette injured.

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