Brighton manager Fabian Hürzeler has strongly criticized Arsenal’s tactics following their 1-0 victory at the Amex Stadium on Wednesday. Hürzeler accused the Gunners of operating outside conventional norms, exploiting what he perceives as lax Premier League refereeing to secure their win.
Bukayo Saka’s early goal proved decisive, propelling Arsenal seven points clear at the summit of the Premier League table after Manchester City could only manage a 2-2 draw at home against Nottingham Forest.
Expressing his frustration, Hürzeler stated, “I believe only one team genuinely attempted to play football today.” He went on to contrast Arsenal’s approach with his own managerial philosophy: “If they ultimately win the Premier League, nobody will question the method… However, I will never be a manager who seeks victory by those means.”
While acknowledging that all teams engage in some degree of game management and time-wasting, Hürzeler stressed the necessity for boundaries. “Every team will, of course, manage the game and waste time, but there must be a limit, and that limit needs to be established by the Premier League,” he asserted, calling for clearer guidelines from the league’s governing body.
