Brighton post another set-piece dig at Arsenal ahead of Amex Stadium clash

Brighton continue to play some good old fashioned mind games ahead of their Premier League showdown with Arsenal at the Amex Stadium.

Arsenal are top of the table and gunning for the title but their style of play has not been to the taste of everyone.

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.

Brighton boss Fabian 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: Arsenal are timewasters

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.”

Brighton set-piece goal against Arsenal

The club then seemed to gently stir the pot a little more this morning as they posted a clip of Brighton scoring against Arsenal from a well worked set-piece routine, albeit back in 2018.

The Seagulls will hope it does not come back to haunt them tonight as Arsenal have now scored 16 times from corners, three more than anyone else this term.

The two against Chelsea equalled the most in a single Premier League season, matching Oldham in 1992-93, West Brom in 2016-17, and themselves in 2023-24.

Albion have been warned!