“That’s all done. That’s all in the past,” said Mikel Arteta as Arsenal prepared for Brighton and a chance to keep their fast start moving. Fabian Hurzeler had criticised Arsenal after their 1-0 win in March, but Arteta was in no mood to keep that alive. The more immediate story is Arsenal’s push to make it seven straight wins in all competitions, with Brighton vs Arsenal set for Saturday.
Arsenal's start and the record in sight
Arsenal have won all four of their Premier League matches this season, and a fifth straight league victory would keep the momentum intact. A win at Brighton would be their eighth consecutive victory in all competitions, which would equal the club’s 123-year record for their best start to a campaign.
Arteta also said, “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.” The line fits the tone of the piece: the feud is over, and the sporting target is far more interesting anyway.
Fitness checks and Dowman's push
Arteta still has three defensive doubts to deal with. Ben White, Piero Hincapié and Cristhian Mosquera are all nursing minor issues, while White was forced off at half-time against Sunderland with a groin issue and Mosquera has been out since the win over Aston Villa last month with a muscle injury.
There is also Max Dowman, whose brace in his sole appearance of the season has kept his name in the mix. Arteta’s line on selection was simple: “The best way to knock on the door is to do it on the pitch, not in the office.” He added that when a player delivers constantly in training and on the pitch, that becomes the best signal for the manager and for team-mates too. Dowman has not had a senior league appearance this season, but Saturday gives Arteta another chance to reward output rather than reputation.
Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 2 outlets. How we work →
