Arsenal will aim to continue their perfect start to the season against Brighton this weekend
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Mikel Arteta has insisted any tension with Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler is now behind him on the eve of their Premier League clash.
Hurzeler criticised Arteta after their previous meeting – a 1-0 win for Arsenal in March – stating "only one team tried to play football" and accused the Gunners of "making their own rules".
Speaking ahead of their fixture at the Amex Stadium on Saturday, the Arsenal manager said: "That’s all done. That’s all in the past.
"I have huge respect for Fabian, and what he’s done and what Brighton has done as a club. It’s just remarkable, and tomorrow is going to be a beautiful game to watch, I’m sure."
Fabian Hurzeler hit out at Arsenal after last season’s match at the Amex Stadiumopen image in gallery
Fabian Hurzeler hit out at Arsenal after last season’s match at the Amex Stadium (PA Wire)
Arsenal travel to the south coast following a dominant start to their Premier League defence, having taken four victories from four.
They confirmed their spot in the Carabao Cup fourth round on Tuesday by defeating Ipswich, with Max Dowman scoring a brace in his sole appearance of the season.
The 16-year-old will be targeting a first league outing of the campaign at Brighton, but when asked if the teenager has been "knocking on his door" to play, Arteta replied: "The best way to knock on the door is to do it on the pitch, not in the office.
"Then you just leave out the arguments. When a player delivers constantly on the pitch, every single day in training, that’s the best way, that’s the best signal for the manager. That’s the best signal for his team-mates, too.
"And what Max did the other day, alongside all the other players, as well, that haven’t played many minutes this season, was really impressive."
Securing an eighth consecutive victory in all competitions at Brighton on Saturday would see Arsenal equal the club’s 123-year record for their best start to a campaign.
"We know how complicated it is to win a football match at this level," Arteta added. "So, to win seven, it tells a story.
"After the World Cup, there were a lot of unknowns about how the players and the team were going to react. We didn’t have any time with them to work together.
Ben White is an injury doubt for Saturday’s gameopen image in gallery
Ben White is an injury doubt for Saturday’s game (PA Wire)
"But I said from day one, the attitude and what I was seeing, I was really impressed with. Then you have to put it down to performances. We had a bit of luck as well, for sure, to win four matches. But we are here.
"We’ve got a really tough opponent tomorrow so we’re going to have to earn the right to win the game. But certainly that will be the mindset of the players and the team."
Defensive rio Ben White, Cristhian Mosquera and Piero Hincapie are all injury doubts for Arsenal’s trip to Brighton, while Jurrien Timber continues working his way back to full fitness following a long-term groin issue.