Maupay’s late strike sinks Arsenal

Neal Maupay combined brilliantly with strike partner Alexis McAllister as he snuck in behind the Arsenal defence to score a stoppage-time winner as Brighton clinched a huge win over Arsenal to lift their relegation worries. Brighton now move to 15th, 4 points ahead of the chasing pack

Arsenal seemed in control early on but then struggled to put their stamp on the game. To make matters worse, they also saw another key player injured.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang had a 53rd-minute goal ruled offside and it was only in the 68th minute that the Gunners took the lead through Nicholas Pepe, who sent a stunning curling shot into the far top corner. Pepe had cut in from the right and unleashed a floater around the defenders, giving Mat Ryan in goal for Brighton very little chance of a save.

Arsenal’s lead, however, lasted all of seven minutes before Brighton equalized through Lewis Dunk who stabbed the ball into the bottom corner after a short corner from Solly March. Maupay’s late strike then clinched it for Brighton.

It was the second defeat for Arsenal since the Premier League restart but even worse for them, they ended the game with another serious injury. Goalkeeper Bernd Leno landed heavily on his knee following a jostle with Neal Maupay. Mikel Arteta brought on Emiliano Martinez to replace Leno just before halftime.  

Meanwhile, Maupay took a swipe at Arsenal players for what he described as “talking a lot when they led 1-0,” insisting said he didn’t intend to hurt Leno.

“At half-time I went to Mikel Arteta, their manager, to apologise because I never meant to injure their keeper,” .

“I just jumped to get the ball maybe and when he landed he just twisted his knee, so I apologise to their team and to him as well.

“I’ve been through a bad injury so I know it’s hard but I never meant to hurt him.

“But some of the Arsenal players need to learn humility maybe sometimes. They’ve been talking a lot first half, second half when they were 1-0 up – they got what they deserved,” Maupay told BT Sport.

Maupay further expressed his desire to see Leno have a quick recovery.

“Until the keeper gets the ball you never know what could happen,” he said. “I just went to get the ball really. I think it was shoulder against shoulder and when he landed he twists his knee, you know it’s football, there’s contact.

“I never meant to injure him so I’m really sorry. I apologise again and wish him a speedy recovery.”