Mikel Arteta and Fabian Hurzeler appeared to exchange some words on the touch-line during a heated first-half.
Arsenal took the lead against Brighton after just nine minutes at the Amex Stadium on Wednesday evening (March 4). Bukayo Saka effort somehow beat Bart Verbruggen after a slight deflection off Carlos Baleba.
It was not a half for the neutral with a very stop-start feel to proceedings and very few goal-scoring opportunities for either team.
Hurzeler and the home supporters grew increasingly agitated with what they perceived as time-wasting tactics by the visitors – who are the current league leaders.
Art de Roché, the Athletic’s Arsenal reporter, wrote on X (formerly Twitter): “Ball spins out for an Arsenal throw-in and Hurzeler runs after it to quickly get it back to an Arsenal player. He turns around to see no red shirts near him asking for the ball and is genuinely annoyed. Quite funny to be honest.”
Hurzeler’s complaints were seemingly not well received by his counterpart. Arteta was seen pointing a finger at the German shortly after the 25th minute mark.
Pre-match, Hurzeler took issue with the time it takes for Arsenal to deliver a set-piece.
The 33-year-old said the Gunners are ‘the best in world at set-pieces’ but feels they take too long to take corners – especially when they are leading.
Mikel Arteta and Fabian Hurzeler appeared to exchange some words on the touch-line during a heated first-half. (Photos via Getty Images)placeholder image
Mikel Arteta and Fabian Hurzeler appeared to exchange some words on the touch-line during a heated first-half. (Photos via Getty Images)
"Sometimes they spend one minute to take a corner if they are leading," the Brighton boss said.
He added: “The main topic is to make a clear rule on how much time you can waste for a corner, for a throw-in, for a free-kick.
“I think no-one recognises it, but when Arsenal have a corner and they are leading, sometimes they spend over one minute just to take a corner.
“Therefore, I think we just have to make clear rules. The game is changing so much.
“I have the opinion that every supporter who pays a lot of money to go to the stadiums and watch our games should see the same net-to-game time because they pay a lot of money.
“They want to see a football event and they don't want to see maybe 50 minutes the ball is in the game and 40 minutes the game is not.
“Therefore, that's how I see it, but I think we won't change these rules immediately.”
Mikel Arteta’s men are known as the ‘Set-piece FC’” this term as their corners and throw-ins are a major part of their tactics as they try to close out a first title in more than 20 years.
Hurzeler has already called Arsenal out for the time they take on set-pieces, especially when they are leading in a match. Hurzeler questions whether that tactic provides value for money for the supporters.
Hurzeler said: “The topic is to make a clear rule on how much time you waste for a corner, a throw-in, a free-kick.
“No-one recognises it, but when Arsenal have a corner and they are leading, sometimes they spend over one minute just to take a corner."
Stats experts Opta Joe backed-up Hurzeler’s claim as they posted: “4:18 – Arsenal have the longest time delays before taking corners in the Premier League this season, over 2 hours in total, averaging 4 minutes 18 seconds per match. Delay.”
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