(Football news) While the Seagulls are headed to North London after yet another historic European event, a victory for the Gunners would allow them to reclaim the top spot in the rankings – at least for a few hours.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta may have avoided punishment for his furious post-match tirade following the team’s 1-0 loss to Newcastle United last month, but the suspended Spaniard was left with little choice but to watch the team lose to Aston Villa by the same score from the director’s box last weekend.
The game’s pivotal moment came from a goal scored by John McGinn inside the first ten minutes, but Arteta, who was left frustrated after watching his team blow several opportunities and lose a few more close calls, questioned the “clear and obvious” threshold following the game.
The Gunners were overtaken by Liverpool at the top of the Premier League standings as a result of their defeat in the West Midlands, and they now only have a one-point lead over Villa, who recently defeated them. However, with the Gunners’ match against Manchester United starting at 4.30 p.m. on Sunday, Arteta’s team will take the lead with another victory.
The Gunners could also go three games without a win for the first time this season after settling for a 1-1 draw against PSV Eindhoven in their final Champions League Group B match. Despite this, Arteta won’t be worrying about the result of that match because both teams advanced to the round of 16.
Arsenal, who has yet to experience a home loss in any competition this year, will look to extend their winning streak at the Emirates to seven games this coming weekend. In their previous six games played in North London, the Gunners have allowed just two goals—less than what Brighton scored in a mere ninety minutes seven months prior.
When Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s Marseille team traveled to the Amex on Thursday for a crucial Europa League match that was a direct shootout for a last-16 berth, it’s possible that he wanted to exact revenge for his team’s recent home humiliations at the hands of Brighton, despite his turbulent departure from North London.
Although it seemed impossible for Roberto De Zerbi’s team to win, Joao Pedro’s sixth goal of the competition—more than any other player’s—with 88 minutes remaining guaranteed Brighton would place above two previous Champions League winners, Marseille and Ajax, at the top of Group B.
