Ian Hart: Arsenal were there for the taking, but Brighton should take some of the blame
Maybe we should be used to it by now, but the mass hysteria and indignation in the wake of the home defeat by Arsenal last Wednesday almost had more thinking there was more to it than just losing 1-0 at home to effectively the EPL champions elect.
Was there something else just about to come out to rock the Albion to its foundations?
Were we also changing the home kit to Blue and Red stripes next season?
A former Arsenal and latterly Albion legend summed it up succinctly the morning after.
“The best two things about last night were the final whistle and the result in Manchester (City had dropped points at home to relegation threatened Forest)”
But however negative and cynical Arsenal’s performance was, gamesmanship whatever, the beautiful game it certainly wasn’t, Brighton have equally got to shoulder some of the blame.
At times we played some sublime, exciting football, clearly matching a side who could end up top of the tree come the end of the season, but not for the first time, we lacked an end product.
The old lies, lies and statistics line was again very apt.
56% ball possession, yet only actually three shots on goal. That said, one better than Arsenal who had two, but obviously one of those went in!
The bottom line, regardless of what’s been said about the Gunners, they were there for the taking.
To come out of the ground thinking, if we had that little bit more, we could have won that game, well the ultimately Albion frustration, but a well trodden path, especially for us oldies.
So Saturday’s trip to surprise EPL package Sunderland, sees the Albion start their final nine game, all but a quarter of the season left.
With the Albion on 37, European qualification is a ‘mere’ six points away but to reiterate, that ship, or should that be cross channel ferry?, has sailed in my opinion.
But that doesn’t mean the season’s over, playing for pride is almost underestimated in the modern game, but there’s the money factor, every place from 1 down to 20 has a different degree of EPL prize money.
So the higher they get the more money they win!
Every game is winnable, but Albion inconsistency means you could easily see them winning 6 or 7 of the 9, then on the flip losing 5 or 6.
Its that age old question, what do we want as fans at this point?
As I said earlier ‘pride’ is a huge factor, that and perhaps a more settled, stronger starting line up each time.
Due to the FA Cup the Albion have had a 10 day break, therefore it would be great to see at 1.45pm on Saturday when the line up is announced, subject to injury, the likes of Minteh, Mitoma, Welbeck, Gross, Van Hecke and Rutter starting.
A win at the Stadium of Light moves on to level with the hosts, and as at Brentford a three weeks ago, this is Brighton so anything is possible...