Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey has shared his disappointment after the Gunners were held to a 1-1 draw by Brighton at the Amex Stadium on Saturday. Despite taking an early lead through 17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri, Arsenal were pegged back by a controversial Joao Pedro penalty.
The equalizer came after Pedro and Arsenal defender William Saliba clashed in the box. Pedro’s deft header saw Saliba inadvertently make contact with his forehead, brushing Pedro’s face. The referee pointed to the spot, leaving Arsenal players and fans stunned.
Reflecting on the game, Partey admitted the team was “sad and frustrated” but tried to find the positives.
“We’re all down because we wanted to win and keep our momentum,” said Partey. “At the same time, we didn’t lose, so we have to focus on working harder to win the next game.”
Manager Mikel Arteta also acknowledged the team’s frustrations but praised their effort in a challenging away fixture.
“We started well, scored a great goal, and defended solidly in the first half,” said Arteta. “But in the second half, we lost our standards with the ball, gave it away too often, and never really controlled the game. That penalty decision was particularly disappointing.”
The Spaniard conceded there was contact between Saliba and Pedro but described the referee’s decision as unprecedented.
“I’ve never seen anything like it,” Arteta said. “The contact was minimal, and both players were going for the ball.”
Arteta’s side has now drawn seven times this season, a trend the Gunners need to address as they chase Premier League glory.
Brighton’s resilient performance highlights the challenges Arsenal face in securing vital points. As Partey emphasized, the focus now shifts to their next game, where they’ll look to bounce back stronger.