Post-Brighton quotes round-up: Arteta, Hurzeler, Gross, Walcott, Merson
Brighton ended Arsenal’s winning start to the season with a rampaging 3-0 victory that leaves Mikel Arteta with plenty to think about during the three-week Interlull.
Pascal Gross, Charalampos Kostoulas and Cheme Andres did the damage either side of the break, as the Gunners were tactically and physically second-best.
Here’s what the managers, players, pundits and stattos made of the action…
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Mikel Arteta on the defeat…
A very disappointing result and performance. Full credit to Brighton in the manner they performed and went about the game. They were another gear from us in the basics of the game. They were always first in the first duel, in the second actions, second balls, and they started to play from there. And on top of that, when we had the ball, especially in our own half, we were extremely poor technically, not respecting the game and the game principles you have to apply against a team that want to press you man to man. That never gives you the option to dominate and control the game in the manner you want. And then when we had big chances, we didn’t put them away. We have to make sure we learn the lesson because this can’t happen again.
Source: Sky Sports
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Fabian Hurzeler on a ‘special’ performance…
Beating the current champions and the best team in England is something special. But it’s not because the result is special, it’s the performance. The boys showed real togetherness and intensity. They were horrible to play against today and that’s because we did the basic things right. Overall I was very pleased with the performance. I think we deserved to win. It’s a moment the players and the staff can enjoy because they worked hard for this but it’s also important why we had this success today, because we did the basics right and we were brilliant in the duels.
Source: Sky Sports
Brighton goalscorer Cheme Andres on a big win…
A perfect performance from our part, the team was amazing, the intensity, energy we put is what we needed to do against this amazing team. I was really excited, it’s been a nice week, first a debut at Old Trafford, then playing the former champions was really nice, I gave everything I had for it. No nerves, that’s everything I felt. My teammates made me feel comfortable and safe, that’s an important part for the performance we put today.
Source: premierleague.com
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Pascal Gross on Brighton’s intensity…
It was a good win, I think we showed great intensity, put the game into their half and punished them. It was a very strong performance against a very strong team, United was a good team but Arsenal, was very complete. We want to make it really hard for them, at home we want to play really intense and put the game in their half, we won the ball high up and attacked really fast. After the last two wins, we’re full of confidence and before the international break, want to finish strong.
Source: premierleague.com
More from Mikel Arteta…
It’s a big lesson to learn. What the team has done since the World Cup has been remarkable. But today there is a lot to learn. Credit to Brighton for what they have done. I think we were very far from our level. The international break means we have more time to swallow because it’s very, very painful. In any game, you can get highly exposed if you don’t do what you need to do.”
Source: BBC Match of the Day
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Arteta on the partnership of Rice and Bruno Guimaraes…
It worked extremely well when we played Sunderland away, and we managed to win the game, and today it didn’t work so well [due to] a lot of things that happened behind them, to make sure that they could play a completely different game. But that’s something that for sure it will evolve. I mean, it’s early stages they’ve only played together a few minutes [together], and that relationship will for sure improve and give us a lot of joy.
Source: Post-game press conference
Theo Walcott on a chastening afternoon for the Gunners…
Brighton are playing with so much confidence and Arsenal looked a bit shellshocked. It’s like they went backwards today; now they’ve got a long period for the international break and that might be a good thing. The messages Mikel Arteta would have given his squad before the game would have been the same; this might show the blueprint of how to beat Arsenal, be aggressive, good on the ball and patient. They looked vulnerable today, but they’re still champions for a reason and they’re going to have to bounce back.
Source: premierleague.com
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Darren Bent on Brighton’s win…
Brighton made Arsenal uncomfortable today. Maybe it might bring them back to earth, get back to basics. Individually, collectively, they were all poor – now they have to go again and show why they’ve been so successful.
Source: premierleague.com
Paul Merson on how Brighton got on top of Arsenal…
I don’t care how good you are. If people get your head down and close you down and make you work, it becomes a leveller. And that’s what Brighton have done. They haven’t given anybody time on the ball to get their head up and pass it, and they’ve been absolutely brilliant.
Source: Sky Sports
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Arteta on where Arsenal go from here…
I think we need to look at it in isolation first and get the learnings and then we can put it into the overall picture.
Source: Arsenal.com
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