Martin Keown Lauds Gabriel but Slams 'Nervy' Declan Rice After Arsenal's Narrow Win Over Brighton
Arsenal solidified their position at the Premier League summit with a hard-fought 1-0 victory against Brighton on Wednesday night, moving seven points clear in the title race. The Gunners seized an early lead through a deflected strike from Bukayo Saka in the ninth minute, then showcased a resilient defensive performance to secure three crucial points.
Keown's Mixed Review: Immense Gabriel vs. Nervy Rice
Former Arsenal defender Martin Keown, analyzing the match on TNT Sports, offered a starkly contrasting assessment of two key players. He hailed center-back Gabriel as "absolutely immense" in a superb display that helped Arsenal keep a clean sheet despite the absence of William Saliba. However, Keown was critical of midfielder Declan Rice, describing his performance as uncharacteristically "nervy" and "tortuous to watch at times." This critique comes despite Rice being widely regarded as one of Arsenal's standout performers this season.
Title Race Dynamics: Arsenal Emerge as Favorites
The victory was compounded by Manchester City dropping points in a draw with Nottingham Forest, a combination that Keown believes makes Arsenal "huge favourites" to win their first Premier League title in 22 years. "It's a massively significant night in the title race," Keown stated. "Looking at that now, Arsenal have become huge favourites. But there's hardly anything in it. Every game is really tough, it's going to go right to the wire." He cautioned against overconfidence, emphasizing the need to focus on each match individually.
Substitutes and Defensive Grit Key to Victory
Keown also praised Mikel Arteta's tactical substitutions, noting that Kai Havertz and Riccardo Calafiori brought a "touch of class" and better balance to the team in the second half. Despite Arsenal managing only two shots on target and just over 40% possession, their defensive solidity proved decisive. Ex-England goalkeeper Rob Green commented on BBC Radio 5 Live that Arsenal "played badly" but "won't care" as they continue to grind out results. "They've had a stroke of good fortune," Green added. "There's not one player that can turn around and say they had a good game, except maybe Hincapie and maybe one or two others defensively. They don't care, they won."
Broader Implications and League Standings
This result not only boosts Arsenal's title aspirations but also sees Brighton drop one place to 12th in the Premier League table. The Gunners' ability to secure wins despite not always dominating matches highlights their growing maturity and resilience under pressure. As the season approaches its climax, every point becomes critical, and Arsenal's latest victory underscores their determination to end a long wait for domestic glory.
