Mikel Arteta hits back at Fabian Hurzeler over forceful criticism of Arsenal FC win

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Mikel Arteta hits back at Fabian Hurzeler over forceful criticism of Arsenal win

Mikel Arteta, at one stage, lost patience with the Brighton manager on the touchline

Arsenal beat Brighton thanks to Bukayo Saka’s early goal

Arsenal FC via Getty Images

Matt Verri

2 minutes ago

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Mikel Arteta hit back at Fabian Hurzeler's forceful criticism of Arsenal's tactics in their win over Brighton.

The Gunners won 1-0 at the Amex Stadium thanks to Bukayo Saka's deflected strike inside the opening ten minutes, moving seven points clear at the top of the Premier League.

It was largely a rearguard effort from that point onwards, with Arsenal keen to take their time over every restart and set-piece.

Hurzeler spent much of the match in the ear of the fourth official complaining about what he perceived to be excessive time-wasting, leading to Arteta angrily jabbing a finger in his direction at one stage.

The Brighton boss was just as unhappy in his post-match press conference, when he said Arsenal did not try to play football and that he would never set his side up to play in that manner.

"What a surprise," Arteta said in response.

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

"I love my players. That's the highlight. I love my players, we love our players. I love the way we compete."

Mikel Arteta watched his Arsenal side grind out a win over Brighton

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Sarcastically referencing the scrutiny on his squad, Arteta added: "I think they love our players, every time they talk about our players. They are the most loved ones in the country."

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Arteta was quizzed on whether he cares what other managers think of his players and how Arsenal approach matches.

He said: "Care? Depends."

Asked if he meant depending on the manager, Arteta replied: "Yeah. And the comments. And the purpose of that."

David Raya went down on several occasions, allowing the Arsenal players to go over to the touchline for instructions.

The referee regularly waved his arm to try and get the Gunners to hurry up, while seven minutes were added on at the end of the second half.

Arsenal held firm for a 1-0 win and Hurzeler cut a frustrated figure when he sat down to reflect on his side's defeat.

"There was only team who tried to play football today," Hurzeler said.

"I ask one question - did you see in a Premier League game a goalkeeper going down three times? No."

The Brighton boss said it was "very difficult" to create rhythm against those tactics and insisted his team would never play like that.

"There are different kinds of winning," Hurzeler said.

"If they win the Premier League, no-one will ask how they win the Premier League. You can really feel that they will do everything now to win this game.

"In the end it's about the rules. If the Premier League and the referees allow everything, then it's difficult. They make their own rules. At the moment I have the feeling they are doing their own rules, no matter how they are playing.

Not impressed: Fabian Hurzeler

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"Overall, I will never be that kind of manager who tries to win in that way. I want to develop players, I want my players to keep improving and keep playing football on the pitch."

Hurzeler added: "If I would ask everyone here in the room did he really enjoy this football game, I'm sure maybe one raises his arm because he's a big Arsenal fan.

"Beside that, no chance."

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