With the pressure of Bayern Munich on the horizon for Arsenal they needed to ensure that they built more momentum going into the Champions League quarter-final. Thomas Tuchel’s side meanwhile did anything but as they all but surrendered the Bundesliga title to Bayer Leverkusen after they lost to Heidenheim despite taking a two-goal lead.
Three goals from the home side completed the comeback despite Tuchel picking all of his best players. It was perhaps something of a template for what the Gunners might expect to face next week and did anything but put fear into Arsenal hearts.
Meanwhile, a flourish of attacking moves was seen at the Amex Stadium as the Gunners pushed for an important win over a Brighton side who have only lost one game in the league at home all season. Although it was just a one-goal lead at the break, Arsenal had nine shots by half-time and should have been several in front.
This was all without Gabriel Martinelli starting the game too. He was brought on with less than half an hour on the clock with Bukayo Saka coming off having scored the penalty to give the Gunners the lead and getting a much-needed rest.
Whilst the focus will perhaps be on the narrative surrounding Harry Kane and his Tottenham links as he returns to north London, the striker of the moment appears to be Kai Havertz. He scored the second goal on the day, a cool simple finish after great work from Jorginho.
Arteta wanted to manage the minutes of his team but also remain competitive. Asked after the game with Luton Town, he answered a question on the strength of his squad he has now.
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“It’s certainly different to what we had last season, and the big injuries that we had in the key moments of the season,” he said. “Touch wood that we can maintain them, and they can be there, but as well that we use them and they have the right mental and physical frame that they have to perform and have an impact in the team.”
Both Leandro Trossard and the aforementioned Martinelli simply bring so much quality from the bench whilst also giving rest to the likes of Saka and Gabriel Jesus and helping to avoid injury – the Belgian showcasing that with a fantastic goal. Oleksandr Zinchenko made way for the now-fit Takehiro Tomiyasu who offers not just quality but a stylistic defensive nous to help see games through.
Bayern will be looking at what Arsenal have achieved at both ends of the field without breaking too much of a sweat. It is the exact message that Arteta will have wanted to send and his team go top of the table which stands as a beacon of his side’s achievement so far this campaign.
