1 day Ago
Fabian Hurzeler did “brilliantly” to change the game as Albion came from behind to draw with Arsenal. That was the view of former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy as he assessed the 1-1 draw. Speaking on Match Of The Day, Murphy highlighted Hurzeler’s response to a timid first half in which the Seagulls fell a goal behind.
BRIGHTON 1 ARSENAL 1 AS IT HAPPENED He told viewers: “He did brilliantly the manager. He tweaked the formation, he made two substitutions but the most important thing he did is be gave them belief. “In the first half they were too deep, too passive and too respectful.
“Minteh came on and Rutter to join Joao Pedro up front. “They had more width, they went higher up the pitch, they got more men forward and pinned Arsenal in. “Straight away in the second half it’s a commitment, it’s a belief to try and get back in the game.
“They had to because Arsenal were really good in the first half and controlling it. “The other thing they did was they allowed the back-lineto get up and pin Arsenal in at times and really take the time and try and get through this Arabel defence which we know is so good. “Varying the game.
It wasn’t all passing out from the back like jt was in the fist half: “Much more difficult to deal with when you’ve got numbers up there. “Getting the ball forward. Rutter used his physicality to help Joao Pedro, who was brilliant in the second half, winning some seconds.
“And then you see the commitment to get men forward . “This is what leads to the penalty, that commitment to get men in the box. “You get that bit of luck when you do that.
“They started believing in themselves when they got the goal and they went on to try and win the game. “Look at the bodies moving forward. “We didn’t see that in the first half.
“There wasn’t that willingness to run without the ball. “It was a completely different performance. “The players deserve some credit but the manager is the one who has done it.
” Murphy, Micah Richards and presenter Gary Lineker all disagreed with Anthony Taylor’s decision to award Albion their penalty..
