Premier League LIVE: Arsenal go seven points clear; West Ham boost survival chances

'People call Arsenal boring but they're getting over the line'

Brighton 0-1 Arsenal

Micah Richards

Former Man City defender on BBC Match of the Day

In terms of Arsenal and the way they set up, it's not just the back line, it's how they do it. And people have talked about Arsenal in terms of being boring, they can't win the league like this, but they're getting over the line and that is the difference at the moment.

I would say Man City play better football and take more risks, but Arsenal are defensively better.

14 clean sheets this season in 30 games, that's just brilliant.

Arsenal lost on all the stats... apart from the most important

Brighton 0-1 Arsenal

It wasn't the best night with regard to performance level for Arsenal on Wednesday evening.

Brighton dominated the stats on the night from possession down to expected goals (xG) but the one the Seagulls didn't dominate? The goals column.

Are Arsenal displaying some of those vintage title winning results in recent weeks? Or will their luck run out?

'Arsenal don't care how they played, they won'

Brighton 0-1 Arsenal

Rob Green

Former West Ham goalkeeper on BBC Radio 5 Live

Arsenal can keep playing badly and winning all they like. It's the others that are faltering. Manchester City are faltering. And you just look at this Arsenal side and how they go about winning games, they manage to just grind out results and that's all they've done tonight.

They've had a stroke of good fortune. There's not one player that can turn around and say they had a good game, except maybe Hincapie and maybe one or two others defensively.

They don't care, they won.

'I think they love our players'

Brighton 0-1 Arsenal

Arsenal

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta later came to the defence of his players during his post-match news conference.

When told about the comments of Pascal Gross and Fabian Hurzeler, Arteta said: "What a surprise.

"You just go back to the previous games and you'll find a lot of comments like this always.”

He added: "I think they love our players. I mean, every time they talk about our players, I think they are the most loved ones in the country.

"We look after our own garden."

'We did what we had to do and that is what we will continue to do'

Brighton 0-1 Arsenal

Arsenal

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta, speaking to TNT Sports: "This was a really difficult one after everything we've been through in the last few weeks.

"Every game in the Premier League offers you different things. Big credit to the boys because the effort they put in is astronomical."

On opening up a seven-point gap on Manchester City: "We did what we had to do and that is what we will continue to do."

'From corners, they don't even watch the ball'

Brighton 0-1 Arsenal

Brighton & Hove Albion

Brighton's Pascal Gross, speaking to TNT Sports: "Arsenal play for the title, they're very solid, not easy to score against. We created some half-chances. They didn't create much. When you go 1-0 down, it's always tough and we couldn't score. They played the game until the end."

On penalty shout: "I've not seen it back. When I go in the box, the way they defend on the edge, also with corners.

"From corners, they block us, they don't even watch the ball. That's how it is, but it's also why they keep a clean sheet. They defend strong and on the edge.

"It kills the rhythm. If you watch the games back, they're very good at doing it. They take time setting things up for themselves. It plays in their favour.

"Sometimes we missed the last pass or the finish. We need more belief that we can do it."

'Football fans want to see a football game, not time wasting'

Brighton 0-1 Arsenal

Brighton & Hove Albion

Brighton's Pascal Gross, speaking to BBC Match of the Day: "In the second half, we had two or three chances. We didn't finish the attack, it's the only thing we missed today. We didn't give away many chances. A good performance, really good effort but in the end, we're disappointed about the result.

"We found a lot of solutions against them. We created a lot. It wasn't the case today, so we are disappointed that we outplayed them.

"No words needed for that for Arsenal. I said my opinion on it. I'm really proud of my fans for how they supported us. Everyone can make their own decision, but I'm sure you don't like to watch these football games. I made my point and I think it's a fair point. Football fans want to see a football game, not time wasting."

'Only one team tried to play football'

Brighton 0-1 Arsenal

Brighton & Hove Albion

More from Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler: "Statistics never lie. We conceded one shot on the goal, we created a lot of chances but overall we lost. I loved the effort from my boys, I loved how they played football.

"I think there was only one team who tried to play football today and therefore I am proud how they did it.

"I ask one question. Do you see in a Premier League game a goalkeeper going down three times? No. So I think we shouldn't waste too much words about that tonight, we should focus on us."

'Arsenal will do anything to win'

Brighton 0-1 Arsenal

Brighton & Hove Albion

Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler: "We can't control these kind of things. I think therefore the Premier League has to find a rule. It is not my business. I might have been complaining about one action of time wasting. There were so many so could be one action of that.

"There are different kinds of winning. If they win the Premier League, nobody will ask how they win the Premier League. You can really feel that they will do everything to win this game. In the end it is about the rules, if the Premier League and the referee allows everything then it is difficult. Then they make their own rules. At the moment I have the feeling they are doing their own rules no matter how they are playing."

'I will never be the kind of manager who tries to win that way'

Brighton 0-1 Arsenal

Brighton & Hove Albion

Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler: "I will never be that kind of manager who tries to win in that way. I want to do well. I want my players to keep improving, keep playing football on the pitch.

"In the end, of course, every team will manage and waste time, but I think there has to be a limit, and the limit has to be set by the Premier League. The limit has to be set by the referees, at the moment they just do what they want.

"If I would ask now everyone in the room if he really enjoyed this football game I'm sure maybe one raises his arm because he is a big Arsenal fan but besides that, no chance."

Relegation battle heats up

Penny for your thoughts Tottenham fans?

Spurs are 16th in the Premier League table and go into tonight's match at home to Crystal Palace just one point above the relegation zone.

Third-bottom West Ham heaped pressure on their rivals with a 1-0 win at in-form Fulham - their fourth victory in eight league matches.

Nottingham Forest's surprise point at Manchester City ensured they remain 17th, but are only out of the bottom three on goal difference.

Suddenly, there are just three points between Leeds in 15th and the Hammers in 18th.

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Craig Nelson

BBC Sport reporter

It wasn't all smiles at the Amex Stadium though.

Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler had plenty to say about the manner of Arsenal's win, repeating the claims of time-wasting he levelled against the Gunners in his pre-match news conference - more on that in a moment.

And Mikel Arteta's side failed to fire going forward, with some woeful attacking stats, but do you care Arsenal fans? Presumably, the three extra points in the Premier League table is the only stat you are concerned about at this stage?

We will get into that debate shortly, but please do send in your thoughts via the 'Get Involved' button.

Power moves at the top

A huge night for Arsenal.

Bukayo Saka's goal was enough to earn a 1-0 win at Brighton and boost their cushion over second-placed Manchester City to seven points, although they have played a game more.

Struggling Nottingham Forest held Pep Guardiola's City to a 2-2 draw at the Etihad.

As mentioned, there was also a big win for Chelsea at Aston Villa in the race for the top five, while Manchester United lost at Newcastle United - their first defeat under Michael Carrick.

That all means there is now just three points between Manchester United in third and Liverpool in sixth...

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