Michael Owen aims dig at Brighton boss and defends Mikel Arteta after Arsenal criticism

Michael Owen has defended Arsenal’s style of play (Picture: PLP)

Michael Owen has dismissed Fabian Hurzeler’s scathing criticism of Arsenal and suggested the Brighton boss may renege on his promise should be ever find himself battling for a league title.

The Gunners were far from their best on the south coast last night and were forced to rely on a steely defensive performance to grind out a vital 1-0 win.

Bukayo Saka ’s fortuitous early goal ultimately secured three points which tasted even sweeter after news of Manchester City’s 2-2 draw with Nottingham Forest filtered through.

Mikel Arteta ’s side now hold a seven point lead, albeit having played a game more, over their closest rivals in the table and, given their commanding position, the Arsenal boss was able to dismiss Hurzeler’s criticisms of his side’s playing style .

‘What a surprise,’ Arteta said, with a healthy dose of sarcasm, in his post match press conference after several of his Brighton counterpart’s pointed observations were out to him.

Owen, meanwhile, conceded this incarnation of Arsenal may not be easy on the eye, but acknowledged that aesthetics count for little the thick of a title run-in.

‘He might change his mind if he’s going for a title,’ said Owen in response to the German’s claim that he’d never set his side up in such a perceived negative fashion. ‘Then and any old win will do.

Bukayo Saka scored the only goal of the game in Arsenal’s 1-0 win over Brighton (Picture: Getty)

‘Listen, Arsenal have played well for the vast majority of the season and it’s the oldest saying in the football book, sometimes you’ve got to win playing ugly.

‘Arsenal have done that as well this season and fair play to them. They find a way of winning.

‘That’s starts in Arsenal’s case with having a very strong defence, a very good goalkeeper and a very organised defence, a solid midfield.

‘They aren’t what Liverpool have been, aren’t what Manchester City have been over the last decade or so. Basically blitzing teams scoring loads of goals but also conceding a few as well so they’re not that style of play.

David Raya was accused of wasting time in Arsenal’s 1-0 win over Brighton (Picture: Getty)

‘They are well drilled and as soon as they score one you rarely see them not picking up the points. Of course they had a bit of a blip at Wolves not so long ago. Apart from that when they score you can just see them shutting out games.

‘They hardly created anything tonight but Brighton didn’t really look like scoring either. Brighton had a lot of pressure but Arsenal defended their box really well.’

Rather than focus on the growing legion of detractors, Arteta was keen to put the post match emphasis on the collective spirit and determination of a group of players who have bounced back so emphatically from that recent slip at Molineux.

Gabriel produced another monster display at the heart of Arsenal’s defence against Brighton (Picture: Getty)

He said: ‘It’s a huge win. We knew how tough it was going to be.

‘We’re coming back from a very difficult game with a lot of intensity, with players really going through the line in every game, with difficulties, not able to train and to come here and get the result that we got, I think it’s remarkable.

‘I mean, when you look at the amount of minutes that players have played in comparison to last season, they are already much higher than last season.