There was plenty of drama as Arsenal beat Brighton and Hove Albion 1-0 this week. However, that was less to do with what happened on the pitch and more to do with what Fabian Hurzeler said in his press conferences.
The young manager set the tone ahead of the Premier League match as he moaned about Mikel Arteta's team taking too long over corners. He said: “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."
Having then lost to the Gunners, with Bukayo Saka's early strike the only goal of the game, Hurzeler once again complained about Arsenal's style of play. Talking to the media off the back of his third defeat in as many games this season against the team from north London, the German claimed his side was the 'only one team that tried to win the game' and even called for rule changes.
Arsenal's success has drawn criticism from others in the game as well, but Michael Owen offered an interesting take on the issue.
Michael Owen Discusses Hurzeler's Criticism of Arsenal
Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler
Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler
Speaking after the game, as quoted by Metro, ex-Liverpool and England star Owen made it clear that Arsenal won't care about how they win, just so long as they get afross the line in the title race.
In response to Hurzeler's claim that he’d never ask Brighton to play in such a perceived negative fashion, Owen said:
"He might change his mind if he’s going for a title. Then any old win will do. Listen, Arsenal have played well for the vast majority of the season and it’s the oldest saying in the football book, sometimes you’ve got to win playing ugly.
"Arsenal have done that as well this season and fair play to them. They find a way of winning. That’s starts in Arsenal’s case with having a very strong defence, a very good goalkeeper and a very organised defence, a solid midfield.
"They aren’t what Liverpool have been, aren’t what Manchester City have been over the last decade or so. Basically blitzing teams scoring loads of goals but also conceding a few as well so they’re not that style of play.
"They are well drilled and as soon as they score one you rarely see them not picking up the points. Of course they had a bit of a blip at Wolves not so long ago. Apart from that when they score you can just see them shutting out games.
"They hardly created anything tonight but Brighton didn’t really look like scoring either. Brighton had a lot of pressure but Arsenal defended their box really well."
With so many jumping on the bandwagon against Arsenal's style of play, Owen's comments were praised as a breath of fresh air. This was evident on social media when the quotes appeared on X.
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Alan Pardew Takes Stance Against Arsenal
West Bromwich Albion manager Alan Pardew watches on
Not everyone has been as balanced as Owen, however. Far better summing up the mood of those who can't seem to handle the idea that the Gunners could win the Premier League this season, former Newcastle United and West Ham manager Alan Pardew claimed that Arsenal will have an “asterisk next to their name” if they’re crowned champions.
He broadly agreed with much of Owen's statement, similarly noting of Arsenal: "They're good, they're strong, they're powerful." But then came to the conclusion that "there'll be an asterisk next to their name because you've only got to look at them really in these type of performances and say, it's just a functional display."
He concluded: "There is nothing beautiful about them. That's the truth."