{"id":2431,"date":"2026-03-05T06:52:33","date_gmt":"2026-03-05T06:52:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/news678.top\/?p=2431"},"modified":"2026-03-05T06:52:33","modified_gmt":"2026-03-05T06:52:33","slug":"michael-owen-aims-dig-at-brighton-boss-and-defends-mikel-arteta-after-arsenal-criticism-football","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news678.top\/?p=2431","title":{"rendered":"Michael Owen aims dig at Brighton boss and defends Mikel Arteta after Arsenal criticism | Football"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n\t\t\t<\/div>Michael Owen has defended Arsenal\u2019s style of play (Picture: PLP)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Michael Owen has dismissed Fabian Hurzeler\u2019s scathing criticism of Arsenal and suggested the Brighton boss may renege on his promise should be ever find himself battling for a league title.<\/p>\n
The Gunners were far from their best on the south coast last night and were forced to rely on a steely defensive performance to grind out a vital 1-0 win.<\/p>\n
Bukayo Saka\u2019s fortuitous early goal ultimately secured three points which tasted even sweeter after news of Manchester City\u2019s 2-2 draw with Nottingham Forest filtered through.<\/p>\n
Mikel Arteta\u2019s side now hold a seven point lead, albeit having played a game more, over their closest rivals in the table and, given their commanding position, the Arsenal boss was able to dismiss Hurzeler\u2019s criticisms of his side\u2019s playing style.<\/p>\n
\u2018What a surprise,\u2019 Arteta said, with a healthy dose of sarcasm, in his post match press conference after several of his Brighton counterpart\u2019s pointed observations were out to him.<\/p>\n
Owen, meanwhile, conceded this incarnation of Arsenal may not be easy on the eye, but acknowledged that aesthetics count for little the thick of a title run-in.<\/p>\n
\u2018He might change his mind if he\u2019s going for a title,\u2019 said Owen in response to the German\u2019s claim that he\u2019d never set his side up in such a perceived negative fashion. \u2018Then and any old win will do.<\/p>\n
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\n\t\t\t<\/div>Bukayo Saka scored the only goal of the game in Arsenal\u2019s 1-0 win over Brighton (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\u2018Listen, Arsenal have played well for the vast majority of the season and it\u2019s the oldest saying in the football book, sometimes you\u2019ve got to win playing ugly.<\/p>\n
\u2018Arsenal have done that as well this season and fair play to them. They find a way of winning. <\/p>\n
\u2018That\u2019s starts in Arsenal\u2019s case with having a very strong defence, a very good goalkeeper and a very organised defence, a solid midfield.<\/p>\n
\u2018They aren\u2019t what Liverpool have been, aren\u2019t what Manchester City have been over the last decade or so. Basically blitzing teams scoring loads of goals but also conceding a few as well so they\u2019re not that style of play.<\/p>\n\n
\n\t\t\t<\/div>David Raya was accused of wasting time in Arsenal\u2019s 1-0 win over Brighton (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\u2018They are well drilled and as soon as they score one you rarely see them not picking up the points. Of course they had a bit of a blip at Wolves not so long ago. Apart from that when they score you can just see them shutting out games.<\/p>\n
\u2018They hardly created anything tonight but Brighton didn\u2019t really look like scoring either. Brighton had a lot of pressure but Arsenal defended their box really well.\u2019<\/p>\n
Rather than focus on the growing legion of detractors, Arteta was keen to put the post match emphasis on the collective spirit and determination of a group of players who have bounced back so emphatically from that recent slip at Molineux.<\/p>\n\n
\n\t\t\t<\/div>Gabriel produced another monster display at the heart of Arsenal\u2019s defence against Brighton (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
He said: \u2018It\u2019s a huge win. We knew how tough it was going to be. <\/p>\n
\u2018We\u2019re coming back from a very difficult game with a lot of intensity, with players really going through the line in every game, with difficulties, not able to train and to come here and get the result that we got, I think it\u2019s remarkable.<\/p>\n
\u2018I mean, when you look at the amount of minutes that players have played in comparison to last season, they are already much higher than last season. <\/p>\n
\u2018That\u2019s the schedule, the normality that we have now in the competition that we are in. <\/p>\n
\u2018We have to accept it, but the level of energy and desire that they put in, it\u2019s phenomenal.\u2019<\/p>\n
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\t<\/div>![\"Brighton](\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/GettyImages-2264820731_18af58.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=594\")
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