Despite playing most of the match with 10 men following Declan Rice’s red card, Arsenal could have won their game against Brighton if they had been more precise in front of goal.
In the first half, Arsenal had several opportunities that they failed to convert. They had three significant chances but missed two, while Brighton did not get any opportunities.
Even with a man down in the second half, Arsenal created two significant chances (one less than Brighton) but could not convert them, whereas Brighton capitalized on one of theirs.
With better finishing, Arsenal could have secured a win in the first half or taken advantage of one of their second-half opportunities. The team is still struggling with their clinical edge, which is concerning.
Ian Wright has urged Mikel Arteta to enhance his team’s finishing skills. He acknowledges that Arsenal should have beaten Brighton in the first half but fell short. Wright points out that the Gunners’ inability to convert chances is hindering their progress, which Arteta needs to address in training.
“The chances we had in the first half… it’s going to come down to that. It will come down to that,” said Wright on PL productions.
“What they’ve got to understand is like City have done and what great teams do, they make sure that when they get those chances, you take them because that then finishes the game off,” he explained.
“If I’m in the dressing room or I’m the manager, I want them to see the chances because I’ve got to emphasize to them how important it is to take these chances in the first half to kill these teams’ spirit,” Wright concluded.
After having difficulties in front of goal in the early part of last season, the Gunners would have hoped to show improvement this season.
Although it’s too early to make a full assessment, Arsenal must be ruthless in front of goal, as expected by Wright and all other supporters, to compete with a Manchester City team led by Erling Haaland.
