Mikel Arteta hails Brighton ahead of Premier League clash

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By Martin Graham | 13th May 2023

Ahead of Arsenal’s Premier League clash against Brighton at the weekend, Mikel Arteta has described Seagulls’ boss Roberto De Zerbi and his side a joy to watch.

The Brighton side have made their mark this term as one of the teams to beat and their exciting style of play under Roberto De Zerbi has been an absolute joy to watch.

Arsenal have had their own story with Brighton this season, losing 3-1 at home in the League Cup before claiming a 4-2 win at the Amex Stadium on New Year’s Eve.

Both sides are similar in their attacking style of play as they look to score goals and keep possession of the ball as much as possible. On paper, it should be one with lots of buzz and action and Mikel Arteta is looking forward to facing a top side.

Arteta heaps praise on Brighton

Speaking about the Brighton said,, Arteta said: Mikel said: “They are a really complete side. The way they are playing under Roberto and the coaching staff is remarkable, it’s just a joy to watch them play. He’s brought a different idea to the league and that’s a different challenge for managers as well.

“This is what you want. We want to be the best league in the world and we need the best managers and the best players. What he’s done with the team, after all the foundations that Graham Potter left at the club, is incredible. It’s going to be a very tough match.

“We’ve beat them as well, so they were two very different games. When you look at the line-up [for the League Cup match], there were 10 changes. They were very similar games in certain moments with different outcomes, but extremely tricky with the way they play and handle certain things they do. It’s the same for them with the way we play.”

Reflecting on Brighton’s phenomenal improvement over the past few years, he added: “They have a really clear vision, they’ve been ahead of many other clubs in the way they have handled and made decisions.

“The way they have developed players, recruited talent, the way they have set up the club, the people that they recruit as well is really impressive. I think they have done extremely well

“The level of every organisation is much better than it was been before. The level of the players, the staff and the coaches – everything has improved. Physically it’s much more demanding, and every detail and every phase of play is dominated in the right way by every opponent.

“That makes the game fascinating because there are a lot of things that can go your way or not go your way in the small margins, and that is the Premier League right now for every team.”