BBC forced to issue apology during live coverage of Arsenal's defeat at Brighton
Arsenal saw their unbeaten start to the season end with a 3-0 defeat to Brighton(Image: Clive Rose/Getty Images)
BBC Radio 5 Live were forced to issue an apology during their live broadcast of Arsenal’s Premier League clash against Brighton on Saturday. The Gunners were on the receiving end of a 3-0 defeat to the Seagulls at the Amex Stadium in what was their final match before the international break.
Pascal Gross put Brighton in front in the second half before Charalampos Kostoulas doubled the home side’s advantage before the half-time break.
Chema Andres scored a third for Brighton to see Arsenal endure a miserable afternoon on the south coast, and see their 100 percent start to the season come to an end.
Due to Arsenal’s clash against Brighton kicking off at 3pm on a Saturday, the fixture was not televised live in the UK. The game was, however, broadcast live on the radio with BBC 5 Live.
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Moments after the opening goal from Gross, 5 Live delivered an apology. Following a quick update from another Premier League fixture, commentator Ian Dennis stated: "Apologies for any inappropriate language that you may have heard, that might have been picked up from our effects mic here on BBC Radio 5 Live."
Alan Shearer praised Brighton enthusiastically on-air during Sports Report. He stated: "It should have been more, the chances Brighton created, they were that good.
"They absolutely battered Arsenal. How many times have we said that recently? From start to finish today, Brighton were magnificent; every single one of them played their part.
"They were strong, they were fit, they went after Arsenal. They had no fear, and it worked brilliantly for them; it should have been six or seven goals.
"Every time they chased down the ball, they got it absolutely spot on. They did it as a team; they didn't do it individually. They thought 'we respected Arsenal, but we're not going to give them any space to play'.
"The organisation was great, and that just doesn't happen on its own, and you've got to give Fabian Hurzeler credit for that."
Dennis' co-commentator, Curtis Davies, was similarly impressed with their performance, while being equally critical in his assessment of Arsenal.
He said of Brighton: "The work ethic, the dynamism, the football quality that they showed, to the decisiveness they showed in areas of the pitch, it was always correct. We spoke about this Brighton side before coming into the game, where they scored a lot of goals.
"They came up against a tough Arsenal side with a strong defence. That defence today was nowhere near what it's used to being. The disappointment will be a set-piece goal conceded, Arsenal will have a real long look at themselves.
"On the other side of it, [Bart] Verbruggen had one big save to make. They didn't lay a glove on Brighton and didn't make anything of their attacking situations."
Arsenal now have to wait three weeks before returning to Premier League action, with October 10 the date of their next match, where they will host Leeds United at the Emirates Stadium.
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