Abject, dire and toxic: it’s open warfare at the Mayhemirates as Arsenal lose again
Gunners are on their worst run of form since 1977
Premier League Arsenal 1 Brighton & Hove Albion 2
The last time Arsenal were in such a winless rut, Margaret Thatcher was still dreaming of becoming prime minister and the Bay City Rollers were the kings of pop.
It was 1977, the year Freddie Ljungberg was born, and the caretaker Arsenal boss probably wished last night that he hadn’t as the Emirates swayed to the sound of bitter disgust.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Arsenal’s 2-1 defeat to Brighton - the first time the Seagulls have beaten the Gunners away - means that they are now without a win in their last nine matches in all competitions, and it’s exactly two months since they last tasted victory in the Premier League.
The boos that greeted the final whistle must have been an alien sound for Ljungberg, who as an Arsenal player more than a decade ago knew nothing but success.
There was also the unedifying sight of players arguing among themselves with Mesut Ozil also apparently involved in an altercation with assistant manager Per Mertesacker.
Clueless Arsenal
Ten points off a Champions League qualification spot, Arsenal are, in the words of The Times headline “clueless, spineless, rudderless”.
It is now inconceivable that Ljungberg will get the manager’s job on a full-time basis; the expected bounce that everyone expected when, seven days ago, he stepped into the breach vacated by Unai Emery, hasn’t materialised.
The players fit the Times’s description, suggesting that the malaise is deep and that the healing process will only begin by getting rid of the many players whose hearts don’t appear to be in the job.
If it means buying some players out of their lucrative contract, so be it, but the likes of Ozil, Lucas Torreira, Granit Xhaka and David Luiz must go and players with hunger arrive.
Soft centre
None of them appeared that keen to put in a good performance for the sake of Ljungberg, nor the fans, those that showed up.
There were once more an alarming number of empty seats at the Emirates, further evidence of the crisis that has enveloped this famous old club.
A team that once boasted never-say-die warriors such as Pat Rice, David O’Leary, Tony Adams and Patrick Vieira now has the softest of centres, and it was to no one’s great surprise when Adam Webster put Brighton ahead ten minutes before the break, the big defender taking advantage of sloppy marking at a corner to stab the ball into the net.
Have a crack
Ljungberg revealed that his half-time team talk consisted of telling the dressing room: “This is not Arsenal, we have to give it a crack.”
They did show a bit more purpose after the break with Alexandre Lacazette heading them level on 50 minutes, but it didn’t herald a major revival.
Instead Brighton worked themselves back into the game and ten minutes from time Neal Maupay headed their winner from Aaron Mooy’s cross.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For analysis of the biggest sport stories - and a concise, balanced take on the week’s news - try The Week magazine. Start your trial today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Reactions to Arsenal’s loss
Freddie Ljungberg, interim Arsenal boss
“It was tough. We didn’t show up in the first half, didn’t work hard and didn’t want to play. You can’t start like that.”
Will Griffee, Daily Mail
“There was a toxic atmosphere at full-time with boos from the home supporters reverberating in the ears of the Arsenal players. Freddie Ljungberg’s side were abject.”
Henry Winter, The Times
“The problems at Arsenal go far deeper than the identity of the man in the dugout. The club’s soft.”
Alex Richards, Daily Mirror
“It was deserved, after another dire no-show from a number of Arsenal’s big name stars.”
Charlie Watts, Goal
“Arsenal have conceded 82 shots in three games this season against Watford, Southampton and Brighton. In the same games they had just 31 shots themselves. That is truly staggering, especially when you consider two of the games were at home. What an inexplicable mess.”
Piers Morgan, TV presenter
“Arsenal’s performance last night was so awful, I genuinely fear we may slide into a relegation battle. If we were played off the pitch like that by Brighton [who were excellent], I can’t even imagine what humiliation is coming when we play Man City next Sunday [15 December]. Pray for us.”
Today’s back pages
Marco gets the ‘Silva bullet’ at Everton
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For analysis of the biggest sport stories - and a concise, balanced take on the week’s news - try The Week magazine. Start your trial today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
The history of Donald Trump's election conspiracy theories
The Explainer How the 2024 Republican nominee has consistently stoked baseless fears of a stolen election
By David Faris Published
-
Two ancient cities have been discovered along the Silk Road
Under the radar The discovery changed what was known about the old trade route
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
'People shouldn't have to share the road with impaired drivers'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
The Premier League's spending cap: levelling the playing field?
Talking Point Top clubs oppose plans to link spending to income of lowest-earning club, but rule could prevent success gap from widening
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Is a new English football regulator an own goal for the game?
Talking Point PM hails 'historic moment for football fans' but West Ham owner warns it could 'ruin' Premier League
By The Week UK Published
-
English football and the etiquette of leaving the stadium early
Talking Point The belief that 'true fans stay to the end' does not always apply
By The Week UK Published
-
2023-2024 Premier League predictions: champions, relegation and golden boot
feature A look at the top flight talking points and pundit picks for the new season
By Mike Starling Published
-
Man City: can ‘one of the best sides in history’ win the treble?
feature Guardiola’s Premier League champions have two more trophies in their sights
By The Week Staff Published
-
Premier League: Man City vs. Arsenal predictions
feature What the pundits say about tonight’s title race showdown at the Etihad
By Mike Starling Last updated
-
Antonio Conte leaves Tottenham after ‘extraordinary’ rant at players
feature After another year without a trophy, Spurs are now searching for a new manager
By The Week Staff Published
-
Liverpool 7 Man Utd 0: ‘welcome to Jürgen Klopp’s Liverpool 2.0’
feature Anfield’s ‘new front three’ were on fire in the humbling of their bitter rivals
By Mike Starling Published