Post Match report for the Arsenal game - Saturday, 31st December 2022
PREMIER LEAGUE 22/23: Brighton V Arsenal - 31/12/22 P16.
* * * * * END OF YEAR REALITY CHECK * * * * *
RESULT: 2-4 ~ Mitoma, Ferguson . (h-t 0-2)
VENUE: the Amex, Falmer - eighth home match of 16 fixtures to date . Sat 5:30pm.
BEFORE KICKOFF: Brighton fans assembled at the community stadium, on the last day of the year, for the first time since that Prem pause for viewing World Cup entertainment.
A minute of applause prior to kickoff in memory of football icon Pele made older supporters recall watching televised tournaments from yesteryear last century.
WEATHER: windy, dry periods . GATE: 31,647 . PITCH: not watered . ATMOSPHERE: old year frustration
ROBERTO de ZERBI reviewed the small squad, to find a possible fit & ready starting eleven.
RdZ went with a revised line-up in central midfield and support to forward areas.
BAN: 25 Caicedo . INJURED: 4 Webster 18 Welbeck . REHAB: 15 Moder
SQUAD: 21 Undav . HOME LEAVE: 10 Mac Allister
STARTING SHAPE: 4-2-3-1
TEAM . . . . . . . 1 Sanchez
. 2 Lamptey 5 Dunk 6 Colwill 30 Estupinan
. 7 March 27 Gilmour 13 Gross 22 Mitoma
. . . . . 14 Lallana . . . . . 11 Trossard
SUBS: 28 Ferguson (60), 19 Sarmiento (60), 20 Enciso (76)
BENCH: 23 Steele (gk) 29 van Hecke 34 Veltman 43 Turns 49 Moran 71 Hinshelwood
GOALS:
0-1 - 2 . losing possession in our third was the start of a quick counter that eluded every intervention.
0-2 - 39 . from a set piece the defended ball dropped to a free guy outside the box and he let fly.
0-3 - 41 . caught on the break and Sanchez got down but could only parry direct to an attacker.
1-3 - 65 . MITOMA slotted home following a useful interchange going forwards with plenty of movement.
1-4 - 71 . a classic counter attack at speed that Sanchez did not come out to and got beat on the floor.
2-4 - 77 . FERGUSON bagged his debut goal from nuisance value as an old school no.9 up the sharp end.
YELLOWS: Gilmour . March . Sarmiento
CHANGES: 60 Ferguson & Sarmiento for Trossard & Lallana . 76 Enciso for March
FIRST HALF: hosts could not cope with opposition speed and intent, falling behind early and conceding a second prior to the interval.
Locals were off the pace and a gulf in class was evident.
SECOND HALF: at the psychological moment the game was up shortly after turnaround and became one of damage limitation for floundering Seagulls.
De Zerbi introduced young substitutes for some minutes on the pitch and further progress thru their learning curves.
IN THE END: the home side appeared better when moving the ball quickly but this surfaced in latter stages when play became stretched.
There was some excitement for the neutral but deja vu for blue & white support from previous seasons when chasing yet another game at the Amex.
NUMBERS: poss 68%-32%, on target 5-7, off target 4-7, corners 7-4,
fouls 7-11, yellows 3-3, subs 3-4, shape 4231-433 . . . . . gd4 pt24 po8
FS
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