4th January, 2025
Arsenal’s hopes of reclaiming the Premier League title were dealt a crushing blow on Saturday after a nail-biting 1-1 draw against Brighton at the Amex Stadium.
The Gunners, who had taken the lead through Ethan Nwaneri’s brilliant strike in the 16th minute, were left to rue missed opportunities and defensive lapses as Joao Pedro’s penalty in the 61st minute pegged them back, leaving both sides to share the spoils.
The first half had promised a significant step forward in Arsenal’s pursuit of the crown. Nwaneri’s clinical finish, after a scintillating individual run, put Arsenal ahead, and despite a few close calls, they seemed to be in control.
Brighton struggled to find their rhythm, with Arsenal’s solid defense and quick counters keeping the Seagulls at bay.
However, the momentum shifted dramatically after the break. Brighton grew into the game, and Arsenal’s defense, which had looked so assured earlier, began to wobble.
The turning point came in the 59th minute when William Saliba was penalized for a clumsy tackle inside the box, gifting Brighton a penalty.
Joao Pedro made no mistake, sending goalkeeper David Raya the wrong way to bring the scores level.
Arsenal fought back with a flurry of chances, but Brighton’s defense held firm, and in the dying minutes, the Gunners saw their title hopes slip further away.
Despite a dramatic six minutes of added time, Mikel Arteta’s men could not break down the Brighton defense.
Leandro Trossard, who had been a thorn in Brighton’s side all match, saw his late attempt soar high into the stands, a metaphor for Arsenal’s frustrated performance.
As the final whistle blew, Arsenal were left to contemplate what could have been. Their failure to secure all three points means they remain vulnerable in the title race, with Manchester City continuing to close the gap.
