Auba strikes again but Brighton deny Arsenal victory

By Daily Sports on December 27, 2018

Arsenal’s top-four bid suffered a setback as Jurgen Locadia’s equaliser gave Brighton a 1-1 draw at the Amex Stadium on Wednesday.

Unai Emery’s side had taken an early lead through Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s fine first-half strike.

But Locadia levelled for Brighton before halftime and the Gunners couldn’t find a winner after the interval.

Arsenal have won only once in their last four games in all competitions, a frustrating sequence that started when their 22-match unbeaten run ended at Southampton on December 16.

The north Londoners climb to fourth place in the Premier League, but fifth placed Chelsea could move back above them if they avoid defeat at Watford later on Wednesday.

Emery started Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette up front and the pair were quickly into the groove.

Despite not often starting together as central strikers this term, Aubameyang and Lacazette have established a good understanding and both were denied well by goalkeeper Mat Ryan early on.

Even so, it took just seven minutes for the pair to put Arsenal ahead. Lacazette poked through for Aubameyang, who curled a fine effort high into the far corner for his 15th goal of the season.

Brighton, beaten in their previous three games, thought they had equalised, only to see Glenn Murray’s effort ruled out.

Murray bundled his way towards goal and forced the ball, seemingly, over the line.

But it was adjudged to have been kicked out of the hands of Arsenal keeper Bernd Leno, who still scrambled back to attempt to claw the ball off the line.

Throughout their impressive first season under Emery, Arsenal have remained troubled by the defensive deficiencies that hampered them in final years of the Arsene Wenger era.

Brighton equalised in the 35th minute after a horrible error from Arsenal right-back Stephan Lichtsteiner.

The Swiss international attempted to head a long ball back to Leno, but succeeded only in finding Jurgen Locadia, who took the ball past Leno and tapped into an empty net.

Emery made a halftime change, bringing on Alex Iwobi for Mesut Ozil, increasing the feeling that the out-of-form German midfielder is on borrowed time at Arsenal, where he is the highest-paid player.

Brighton began the second period the stronger, twice coming close to taking the lead.

Solly March cut in from the right and his low effort was pushed around the post by Leno. Then March turned provider to tee up Locadia who glanced just wide.

Iwobi almost won it late on when he blocked March’s clearance and the ball trickled just wide, but Arsenal were force to settle for a point. (SuperSport)

•Photo shows Pierre Emerick Aubameyang, who scored the only goal for Arsenal 

Source Daily Sports

Posted December 27, 2018


 

You may also like...
Tornadoes blames luck for Aiteo Cup final defeat...

Ruthless Man City Put Five Past Newcastle

Ahmed Musa scores in big CSKA Moscow win...

Iwobi vows to repay Silva faith

Mexico’s international football star kidnapped •Security forces launch...

UEFA Champions League: No goals in Paris, joy...

 

Latest News Hearn slams Ngannou over Joshua defeat excuse Chelsea eye Martinez to replace Osimhen Visa unveils Amusan, Nwachukwu as global ambassadors I’m not under pressure to coach Eagles – Finidi Super Eagles focused on World Cup qualifiers – Omeruo Ibrahim: Striker who wants to emulate Lukaku at Chelsea Boniface ranked best African performer in Europe Napoli may reduce Osimhen price tag Mali beat Nigeria 2-0 in international friendly NOC commends Team Nigeria, government, media for victory at African Games JOF U-13 Cup: 8 Clubs Qualify For Quarterfinals Osimhen resumes training, fit for Atalanta clash

 

Most Read Rangers International going, going . . . (53,402 views) Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (44,407 views) Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (42,549 views) Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (42,225 views) Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (42,007 views) Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (41,889 views) Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (41,775 views) NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (41,229 views) Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (40,277 views) Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (39,186 views) Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (37,640 views) John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (37,216 views)

 

Phone numbers

Tel: +234(0)8066020976
+234(0)8055068145
+234(0)7013416146
+234(0)8094272884

Email addresses

info@dailysportsng.com
support@dailysportsng.com
publisher@dailysportsng.com

Office address

No 3, Adetoun Close, Off College Road, Ogba, Ikeja Lagos.
Website: www.dailysportsng.com

Social Media