Hello again, Gooners and welcome to The Loose Cannon. Today’s headline is ‘Good old same old VAR controversy as Seagulls snatch point away from Arsenal. Well,it was a gripping Premier League encounter at the Amex Stadium, but Arsenal's quest for league supremacy faced an unexpected hurdle as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Brighton & Hove Albion. The match,which left Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta and traveling fans in disbelief, was overshadowed by a contentious penalty decision.
Arsenal started the game with a strong showing, quickly establishing their dominance on the pitch. In the 16th minute,17-year-old prodigy Ethan Nwaneri captivated the crowd with a moment of sheer brilliance. Cutting inside from the right,he delivered a precise finish that sailed past Brighton's goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen. The tide of the match turned dramatically just after the hour mark.
William Saliba was penalized for a challenge on Joao Pedro inside the box—a decision that many deemed questionable. Despite fervent protests from the Arsenal camp and a thorough VAR review, the penalty was upheld. Joao Pedro capitalized on the opportunity, calmly converting from the spot to bring Brighton level. After the final whistle,Mikel Arteta was visibly frustrated and did not hold back his opinions: "I was amazed. Amazed, amazed, amazed because of how inconsistent decisions can be.
" His sentiments resonated with many Arsenal supporters who felt that the officiating had been unfair. While Nwaneri's performance was undoubtedly a highlight, several key Arsenal players struggled to leave their mark on the game. Gabriel Jesus,tasked with leading the line,was largely absent from the action, and the midfield sorely missed the creativity typically provided by Martin Ødegaard, who was on the bench due to illness.
This draw sees Arsenal now trailing five points behind league leaders Liverpool, who have two games in hand. With a series of challenging fixtures looming,the Gunners must find consistency and rally if they are to keep their title hopes alive. Arsenal face the task of addressing their recent struggles while hoping for more favorable officiating in future matches. The team's talent and resilience are clear; the challenge lies in translating these qualities into consistent victories on the pitch.
According to match ratings from The Sun and EPL Index, here are the average ratings out of 10 for each Arsenal player in the 1-1 draw against Brighton on January 4,
- David Raya (Goalkeeper): 6. 5 - Thomas Partey (Right-Back): 6. 75 - William Saliba (Centre-Back): 5. 5 - Gabriel Magalhaes (Centre-Back): 5. 5 - Riccardo Calafiori (Left-Back): 7. 25 - Jorginho (Midfielder): 5. 5 - Mikel Merino (Midfielder): 7 - Declan Rice (Midfielder): 7 - Leandro Trossard (Right Wing): 6 - Ethan Nwaneri (Left Wing): 7. 75 - Gabriel Jesus (Striker): 5. 5 - Martin Ødegaard (Substitute): 6 - Gabriel Martinelli (Substitute): 6 Arsenal’s title prospects are not looking good.
As of January 5, 2025, Arsenal sit on 42 points after 21 matches, averaging 2 points per game. Meanwhile,Liverpool lead the Premier League with 47 points from 19 matches, averaging approximately 2. 47 points per game. The Fantasy Premier League Fixture Difficulty Rating (FDR) system assigns a difficulty score to each match, ranging from 1 (easiest) to 5 (hardest). This tool aids in predicting potential outcomes based on upcoming fixture challenges.
So let’s look at Arsenal's Remaining Fixtures and Projected Points: - Jan 15: Tottenham Hotspur (Home) - FDR 4 - 1 point - Jan 18: Aston Villa (Home) - FDR 3 - 3 points - Jan 25: Wolverhampton Wanderers (Away) - FDR 3 - 1 point - Feb 1: Manchester City (Home) - FDR 5 - 0 points - Feb 15: Leicester City (Away) - FDR 3 - 1 point - Feb 22: West Ham United (Home) - FDR 3 - 3 points - Feb 25: Nottingham Forest (Away) - FDR 2 - 3 points - Mar 8: Manchester United (Away) - FDR 4 - 0 points - Mar 15: Chelsea (Home) - FDR 4 - 1 point - Apr 1: Fulham (Home) - FDR 2 - 3 points - Apr 5: Everton (Away) - FDR 3 - 1 point - Apr 12: Brentford (Home) - FDR 3 - 3 points - Apr 19: Ipswich Town (Away) - FDR 2 - 3 points - Apr 26: Crystal Palace (Home) - FDR 2 - 3 points - May 3: AFC Bournemouth (Home) - FDR 2 - 3 points - May 10: Liverpool (Away) - FDR 5 - 0 points - May 18: Newcastle United (Home) - FDR 4 - 1 point - May 25: Southampton (Away) - FDR 2 - 3 points Total Projected Points for Remaining Fixtures: 32 Adding these to the current 42 points,
Arsenal's projected season total is 74 points.
So what about Liverpool's Remaining Fixtures and Projected Points: - Jan 14: Nottingham Forest (Away) - FDR 2 - 3 points - Jan 18: Everton (Away) - FDR 3 - 3 points - Jan 25: Ipswich Town (Home) - FDR 2 - 3 points - Feb 1: Wolverhampton Wanderers (Home) - FDR 2 - 3 points - Feb 15: Aston Villa (Away) - FDR 3 - 3 points - Feb 22: AFC Bournemouth (Away) - FDR 2 - 3 points - Feb 25: Southampton (Home) - FDR 2 - 3 points - Mar 8: Chelsea (Away) - FDR 4 - 1 point - Mar 15: Manchester United (Home) - FDR 4 - 3 points - Apr 1: Crystal Palace (Away) - FDR 2 - 3 points - Apr 5: Fulham (Home) - FDR 2 - 3 points - Apr 12: Brentford (Away) - FDR 3 - 3 points - Apr 19: Everton (Home) - FDR 3 - 3 points - Apr 26: Leicester City (Away) - FDR 3 - 3 points - May 3: West Ham United (Home) - FDR 3 - 3 points - May 10: Arsenal (Home) - FDR 4 - 3 points - May 18: Manchester City (Away) - FDR 5 - 1 point - May 25: Tottenham Hotspur (Home) - FDR 4 - 3 points Total Projected Points for Remaining Fixtures: 52 Adding these to the current 47 points,
Liverpool's projected season total is 99 points. So Based on the Fixture Difficulty Ratings and current standings, Liverpool are projected to finish the season with a staggering 99 points, while Arsenal are expected to accumulate 74 points. This analysis suggests that Liverpool may maintain their lead, leaving Arsenal with the challenge of securing favorable results in demanding fixtures to close the gap.
As the season unfolds, Arsenal fans will be hoping for a reversal of fortunes in the title race. Until then, it's adios trophio amigos!