A L B I O N R E P O R T - 21
23 MAY 2021 - ARSENAL 2 ( Nicolas Pepe 2 - 49 minutes,
60 minutes ) BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION 0 - PREMIER LEAGUE -
at the EMIRATES STADIUM, LONDON N5.
After their excellent win over Champions Manchester City at the Amex on the 18 May,
the Albion were off to North London for their final Premier League game of the season
against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium, "live" in front of the Sky Sports cameras and
over the airwaves on BBC Radio Sussex Sport, with 10000 Arsenal fans present.
Following the 3-2 win over Manchester City, Albion Head Coach Graham Potter made
two changes to his starting line-up from that game, with the suspension-free Lewis Dunk
and Leandro Trossard coming in for Steven Alzate and Danny Welbeck (injured).
On a four-match winning streak in the Premier, last time out Arsenal had won 3-1 at
Crystal Palace on the 19 May and for the visit of the Seagulls, Manager Mikel Arteta
made two changes to his starting line-up from the Palace game, with Granit Xhaka and
Martin Odegaard replacing Mohamed Elneny and Bukayo Saka. Mathew Ryan, on-loan
from the Albion, was ineligible to play in this one.
In the reverse fixture earlier this season at the Amex on the 29 December 2020, Arsenal
won 1-0, with their goal coming from Alexandre Lacazette on 66 minutes. In the corres-
ponding game at the Emirates Stadium last season on the 5 December 2019, the
Albion won 2-1, with Adam Webster (36m) and Neal Maupay (80m) scoring for the
Seagulls and Alexandre Lacazette (50m) replying for the Gunners. The line-ups for the
game - Albion (4-4-2):- Mathew Ryan; Steven Alzate (Shane Duffy 88), Adam Webster,
Lewis Dunk (Capt), Dan Burn; Pascal Gross (Leandro Trossard 80), Dale Stephens,
Aaron Mooy, Davy Propper; Aaron Connolly (Martin Montoya 76), Neal Maupay. Subs
not used: David Button (G/K), Bernardo, Yves Bissouma, Glenn Murray. Arsenal
(4-3-3):- Bernd Leno; Hector Bellerin, Sokratis, David Luiz, Sead Kolasinac (Kieran
Tierney 72); Lucas Torreira, Granit Xhaka, Joe Willock (Nicolas Pepe 46); Mesut Ozil,
Alexandre Lacazette (Gabriel Martinelli 77), Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Capt).
Subs not used: Emiliano Martinez (G/K), Calum Chambers, Matteo Guendouzi,
Reiss Nelson.
This was no typical end-of-season affair, as both teams had targets to achieve, Arsenal
needed to win to keep alive their faint hopes of qualifying for European football next
season and the Albion were looking to attain their highest-ever points tally in the Premier.
The early exchanges were confined to midfield, as both teams sounded each other out.
The Albion created a couple of chances as Alireza Jahanbakhsh had a shot which
Bernd Leno in the Arsenal goal held easily and then Jakub Moder saw his shot blocked
by the Arsenal defensive unit. The home side then perked up as Rob Holding had a
goal disallowed for offside and in the final minute of the first-half, Arsenal Captain Pierre-
Emerick Aubameyang saw his looped header, from a Granit Xhaka centre, come back
off the crossbar, with Albion goalkeeper Robert Sanchez well beaten. Half-time 0-0.
The second-half saw Arsenal on the front foot and on 49 minutes they took the lead as
Calum Chambers fed Nicolas Pepe, the winger ran on and from fifteen yards out sent
a precise low right-foot shot past keeper Sanchez. 0-1. Albion bounced back from this
setback, substitute Aaron Connolly sent in a shot which missed the target by a whisker
and then Yves Bissouma saw his right-footed shot flash past the post. Arsenal increased
their lead on the hour when Real Madrid loanee Martin Odegaard picked out Pepe and
and the winger fired a left-foot shot past Sanchez, just inside the far post. 0-2. Keeper
Leno then parried away a powerful volley from Moder and the last meaningful action of
the game saw Thomas Partey's shot from the edge of the area rebound back into play
off the Albion crossbar. In the end neither side achieved their pre-match ambitions, as
Albion failed to get the point they needed to beat their Premier League record points
total of 41 and Arsenal did not qualify for European football next season, despite their
fifth win on the bounce. Final-score 0-2.
Albion had 5 attempts at goal, with 1 on target and won 3 corners, free-kicks conceded
- 8. Arsenal had 16 attempts at goal, with 5 on target and won 11 corners, free-kicks
conceded - 10.
VERDICT - After the euphoria of the win over Manchester City a few days previously,
the Albion gave a low-key performance at the Emirates Stadium. The Seagulls can
look forward to a fifth consecutive season in the Premier, starting in August. Urgent
on the Albion's agenda will be the need to improve the goal-scoring department. It
will be an interesting close-season.
Albion line-up (4-3-3):- Robert Sanchez; Ben White, Adam Webster, Lewis Dunk
(Capt), Dan Burn; Pascal Gross, Yves Bissouma, Jakub Moder; Alireza Jahanbakhsh
(Adam Lallana 46), Alexis Mac Allister (Steven Alzate 66), Leandro Trossard (Aaron
Connolly 46). Subs not used: Jason Steele (G/K), Michal Karbownik, Moises Caicedo,
Percy Tau, Andi Zeqiri, Tom McGill (G/K).
Arsenal line-up (4-2-3-1):- Bernd Leno; Calum Chambers, Rob Holding, Gabriel
Magalhaes, Kieran Tierney; Thomas Partey, Granit Xhaka; Nicolas Pepe, Martin
Odegaard (Gabriel Martinelli 86), Emile Smith Rowe (Bukayo Saka 74); Pierre-
Emerick Aubameyang (Capt) (Alexandre Lacazette 79). Subs not used: Alex
Runarsson (G/K), Cedric Soares, Pablo Mari, Mohamed Elneny, Dani Ceballos,
Eddie Nketiah.
Referee: Jonathan Moss (West Yorkshire).
Possession: Albion - 46%. Arsenal - 54%.
BBC Sport Player of the Match: Nicolas Pepe (Arsenal).
Attendance: 10000.
PREMIER LEAGUE - FINAL TABLE
SEASON 2020/2021
1. MANCHESTER CITY 38 27 5 6 83 32 51 86 (C)
2. MANCHESTER UNITED 38 21 11 6 73 44 29 74
3. LIVERPOOL 38 20 9 9 68 42 26 69
4. CHELSEA 38 19 10 9 58 36 22 67
5. LEICESTER CITY 38 20 6 12 68 50 18 66
6. WEST HAM UNITED 38 19 8 11 62 47 15 65
7. TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 38 18 8 12 68 45 23 62
8. ARSENAL 38 18 7 13 55 39 16 61
9. LEEDS UNITED 38 18 5 15 62 54 8 59
10.EVERTON 38 17 8 13 47 48 -1 59
11.ASTON VILLA 38 16 7 15 55 46 9 55
12.NEWCASTLE UNITED 38 12 9 17 46 62 -16 45
13.WOLVERHAMPTON WAN.,38 12 9 17 36 52 -16 45
14.CRYSTAL PALACE 38 12 8 18 41 66 -25 44
15.SOUTHAMPTON 38 12 7 19 47 68 -21 43
16.BTON & HOVE ALBION 38 9 14 15 40 46 -6 41
17.BURNLEY 38 10 9 19 33 55 -22 39
18.FULHAM 38 5 13 20 27 53 -26 28
19.WEST BROM ALBION 38 5 11 22 35 76 -41 26
20.SHEFFIELD UNITED 38 7 2 29 20 63 -43 23
Have a happy & healthy summer 2021 and enjoy UEFA EURO 2020.
Jack Kaye
26 May 2021.
23 MAY 2021 - ARSENAL 2 ( Nicolas Pepe 2 - 49 minutes,
60 minutes ) BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION 0 - PREMIER LEAGUE -
at the EMIRATES STADIUM, LONDON N5.
After their excellent win over Champions Manchester City at the Amex on the 18 May,
the Albion were off to North London for their final Premier League game of the season
against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium, "live" in front of the Sky Sports cameras and
over the airwaves on BBC Radio Sussex Sport, with 10000 Arsenal fans present.
Following the 3-2 win over Manchester City, Albion Head Coach Graham Potter made
two changes to his starting line-up from that game, with the suspension-free Lewis Dunk
and Leandro Trossard coming in for Steven Alzate and Danny Welbeck (injured).
On a four-match winning streak in the Premier, last time out Arsenal had won 3-1 at
Crystal Palace on the 19 May and for the visit of the Seagulls, Manager Mikel Arteta
made two changes to his starting line-up from the Palace game, with Granit Xhaka and
Martin Odegaard replacing Mohamed Elneny and Bukayo Saka. Mathew Ryan, on-loan
from the Albion, was ineligible to play in this one.
In the reverse fixture earlier this season at the Amex on the 29 December 2020, Arsenal
won 1-0, with their goal coming from Alexandre Lacazette on 66 minutes. In the corres-
ponding game at the Emirates Stadium last season on the 5 December 2019, the
Albion won 2-1, with Adam Webster (36m) and Neal Maupay (80m) scoring for the
Seagulls and Alexandre Lacazette (50m) replying for the Gunners. The line-ups for the
game - Albion (4-4-2):- Mathew Ryan; Steven Alzate (Shane Duffy 88), Adam Webster,
Lewis Dunk (Capt), Dan Burn; Pascal Gross (Leandro Trossard 80), Dale Stephens,
Aaron Mooy, Davy Propper; Aaron Connolly (Martin Montoya 76), Neal Maupay. Subs
not used: David Button (G/K), Bernardo, Yves Bissouma, Glenn Murray. Arsenal
(4-3-3):- Bernd Leno; Hector Bellerin, Sokratis, David Luiz, Sead Kolasinac (Kieran
Tierney 72); Lucas Torreira, Granit Xhaka, Joe Willock (Nicolas Pepe 46); Mesut Ozil,
Alexandre Lacazette (Gabriel Martinelli 77), Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Capt).
Subs not used: Emiliano Martinez (G/K), Calum Chambers, Matteo Guendouzi,
Reiss Nelson.
This was no typical end-of-season affair, as both teams had targets to achieve, Arsenal
needed to win to keep alive their faint hopes of qualifying for European football next
season and the Albion were looking to attain their highest-ever points tally in the Premier.
The early exchanges were confined to midfield, as both teams sounded each other out.
The Albion created a couple of chances as Alireza Jahanbakhsh had a shot which
Bernd Leno in the Arsenal goal held easily and then Jakub Moder saw his shot blocked
by the Arsenal defensive unit. The home side then perked up as Rob Holding had a
goal disallowed for offside and in the final minute of the first-half, Arsenal Captain Pierre-
Emerick Aubameyang saw his looped header, from a Granit Xhaka centre, come back
off the crossbar, with Albion goalkeeper Robert Sanchez well beaten. Half-time 0-0.
The second-half saw Arsenal on the front foot and on 49 minutes they took the lead as
Calum Chambers fed Nicolas Pepe, the winger ran on and from fifteen yards out sent
a precise low right-foot shot past keeper Sanchez. 0-1. Albion bounced back from this
setback, substitute Aaron Connolly sent in a shot which missed the target by a whisker
and then Yves Bissouma saw his right-footed shot flash past the post. Arsenal increased
their lead on the hour when Real Madrid loanee Martin Odegaard picked out Pepe and
and the winger fired a left-foot shot past Sanchez, just inside the far post. 0-2. Keeper
Leno then parried away a powerful volley from Moder and the last meaningful action of
the game saw Thomas Partey's shot from the edge of the area rebound back into play
off the Albion crossbar. In the end neither side achieved their pre-match ambitions, as
Albion failed to get the point they needed to beat their Premier League record points
total of 41 and Arsenal did not qualify for European football next season, despite their
fifth win on the bounce. Final-score 0-2.
Albion had 5 attempts at goal, with 1 on target and won 3 corners, free-kicks conceded
- 8. Arsenal had 16 attempts at goal, with 5 on target and won 11 corners, free-kicks
conceded - 10.
VERDICT - After the euphoria of the win over Manchester City a few days previously,
the Albion gave a low-key performance at the Emirates Stadium. The Seagulls can
look forward to a fifth consecutive season in the Premier, starting in August. Urgent
on the Albion's agenda will be the need to improve the goal-scoring department. It
will be an interesting close-season.
Albion line-up (4-3-3):- Robert Sanchez; Ben White, Adam Webster, Lewis Dunk
(Capt), Dan Burn; Pascal Gross, Yves Bissouma, Jakub Moder; Alireza Jahanbakhsh
(Adam Lallana 46), Alexis Mac Allister (Steven Alzate 66), Leandro Trossard (Aaron
Connolly 46). Subs not used: Jason Steele (G/K), Michal Karbownik, Moises Caicedo,
Percy Tau, Andi Zeqiri, Tom McGill (G/K).
Arsenal line-up (4-2-3-1):- Bernd Leno; Calum Chambers, Rob Holding, Gabriel
Magalhaes, Kieran Tierney; Thomas Partey, Granit Xhaka; Nicolas Pepe, Martin
Odegaard (Gabriel Martinelli 86), Emile Smith Rowe (Bukayo Saka 74); Pierre-
Emerick Aubameyang (Capt) (Alexandre Lacazette 79). Subs not used: Alex
Runarsson (G/K), Cedric Soares, Pablo Mari, Mohamed Elneny, Dani Ceballos,
Eddie Nketiah.
Referee: Jonathan Moss (West Yorkshire).
Possession: Albion - 46%. Arsenal - 54%.
BBC Sport Player of the Match: Nicolas Pepe (Arsenal).
Attendance: 10000.
PREMIER LEAGUE - FINAL TABLE
SEASON 2020/2021
1. MANCHESTER CITY 38 27 5 6 83 32 51 86 (C)
2. MANCHESTER UNITED 38 21 11 6 73 44 29 74
3. LIVERPOOL 38 20 9 9 68 42 26 69
4. CHELSEA 38 19 10 9 58 36 22 67
5. LEICESTER CITY 38 20 6 12 68 50 18 66
6. WEST HAM UNITED 38 19 8 11 62 47 15 65
7. TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 38 18 8 12 68 45 23 62
8. ARSENAL 38 18 7 13 55 39 16 61
9. LEEDS UNITED 38 18 5 15 62 54 8 59
10.EVERTON 38 17 8 13 47 48 -1 59
11.ASTON VILLA 38 16 7 15 55 46 9 55
12.NEWCASTLE UNITED 38 12 9 17 46 62 -16 45
13.WOLVERHAMPTON WAN.,38 12 9 17 36 52 -16 45
14.CRYSTAL PALACE 38 12 8 18 41 66 -25 44
15.SOUTHAMPTON 38 12 7 19 47 68 -21 43
16.BTON & HOVE ALBION 38 9 14 15 40 46 -6 41
17.BURNLEY 38 10 9 19 33 55 -22 39
18.FULHAM 38 5 13 20 27 53 -26 28
19.WEST BROM ALBION 38 5 11 22 35 76 -41 26
20.SHEFFIELD UNITED 38 7 2 29 20 63 -43 23
Have a happy & healthy summer 2021 and enjoy UEFA EURO 2020.
Jack Kaye
26 May 2021.
