‘Miles off it’: Paul Merson offers brutal assessment of Bruno Guimaraes’ full Arsenal debut v Brighton
Bruno Guimaraes was given the nod in central midfield at Brighton today but it’s safe to say that things did not work out well.
Guimaraes was the man of the hour last week as his rocket into the top corner helped down Sunderland.
However, at Brighton today, the £80m midfielder looked way off it as Arsenal struggled to contain the Seagulls and limped to a heavy defeat.
For Guimaraes, who was hooked not long after the break anyway, there is a lot to sit and think about.
And for former Arsenal man Paul Merson, Guimaraes simply wasn’t up to speed.
Paul Merson criticises Bruno Guimaraes as Arsenal lose at Brighton
Sometimes, you just have to take your hat off and admit the better team won.
Brighton were better in every aspect of today’s game and for Bruno, it was a real baptism of fire in terms of proper introductions.
Indeed, Merson believes that Brighton simply targeted the Arsenal man and he couldn’t cope.
“A million miles off it. A million miles off it. I said at half time he would come off, but he’s stayed on for another 10 minutes or so,” Merson said on Sky Sports.
“No, it was really quick for him, they closed him down. I don’t care how good you are. If people get your head down and close you down and make you work it’s a leveller and that’s what Brighton have done. They have been absolutely brilliant.”
The big winner here is, of course, Myles Lewis-Skelly.
The youngster has been brilliant all season and while he won’t have enjoyed seeing his team lose, he will take comfort in the fact it was his replacement who struggled.
Arsenal now have something fresh to think about and with an international break to put things right, Mikel Arteta has work to do.