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Arteta Reflects on Arsenal’s Brighton Draw

Posted : 27 December 2025

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has admitted he was “hacked off” following last season’s 1-1 draw with Brighton & Hove Albion but has highlighted the Gunners’ much-improved disciplinary record in the current campaign.

Last August, Declan Rice was sent off for nudging the ball away from Joël Veltman during a free-kick, one of six red cards Arsenal received during the 2024/25 Premier League season—at least three more than any other club.

 The following month, Leandro Trossard was dismissed at Manchester City for kicking the ball into the stands, while referees initially attempted to clamp down on timewasting at restarts before the rules were relaxed.

Reflecting on that Brighton clash ahead of their return to the Emirates Stadium, Arteta said, “I remember very well. I was very hacked off in the manner that we played with 10 men. So hopefully it is going to be very different this time. I think the rules are different now. We paid a big price with that rule, and hopefully that stays away and we continue to play with 11 players.”

Arsenal have started the 2025/26 season with a record of 22 yellow cards and no red cards in 17 league games, currently topping the Fair Play league. “I didn’t know,” Arteta admitted. “That is good, very good.”

The manager also teased the potential return of Germany international Kai Havertz, who has been sidelined with a knee injury since the opening weekend. Having returned to training earlier this week, Arteta said, “I think it will be a matter of days, not weeks. Let’s see in the next steps how he responds. But he is, again, a player that we missed a lot, a player that brings the team into a different dimension. So, I am really happy to have him back soon.”

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