Arsenal were comfortably beaten by Brighton & Hove Albion to suffer their first defeat of the season
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has been told his summer signing was miles off the pace.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has been told his summer signing was miles off the pace.(Image: PA Wire)
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Former Arsenal star Paul Merson has hammered Bruno Guimaraes for his performance against Brighton & Hove Albion, claiming the Brazil international looked 'a million miles off it.' The Gunners were beaten 3-0 by Fabian Hurzeler's side in their first defeat of the campaign.
The Gunners could have equalled a 123-year club record of eight straight victories in all competitions to start a season, but Brighton ran riot.
Pascal Gross put the hosts ahead after 31 minutes before Charalampos Kostoulas added a second on the stroke of half-time.
The Arsenal boss sprinted down the tunnel to try and inspire his side at half-time, but the Gunners were given a taste of their own medicine when Chema Andres scored a header from a corner shortly before the hour mark.
It was a disappointing afternoon for Guimaraes on his first start for the club, giving the ball away just seven minutes into the game.
Kostoulas tried his luck from range buy David Raya managed to tip the shot over the bar, but it was a worrying sign of things to come.
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Speaking on Sky Sports' Soccer Saturday, Merson said: "He was a million miles off it, million miles off it. I said at half-time that he'd come off but he stayed on another 10 minutes or so.
"No, it was really quick for him. They closed him down. I don't care how good you are, if people get your head down and close you down and make you work, it becomes a leveller.
"That's what Brighton have done. They haven't given anybody time on the ball to get their head up and pass it, and they've been absolutely brilliant."
Bruno Guimaraes struggled in Arsenal's defeat to Brighton.
Bruno Guimaraes struggled in Arsenal's defeat to Brighton.(Image: PA Wire)
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Speaking after the game, Arteta made his feelings clear and said: "Extremely disappointed. But first of all, we have to congratulate Brighton; they deserved it.
"They were the better team, and from our side, there were certain basics in football that we didn't. Winning the first ball.
"They put us in a really difficult place. The amount of technical errors. We didn't respect any principle of play. We had moments of dominance and control, and we opened them up; we didn't take those chances."