It is always great to see Arsenal win, especially as it is their first away win of the year, to describe the match as comfortable would be far from true. Brighton gave the game their all and can feel aggrieved to have not come away with a draw.

Wenger made the bold move to rest three of our key players, Jack Wilshere, Theo Walcott and Santi Cazorla, but it was one that needed to be made, as these players needed a bit of a breather with big matches against Liverpool and Stoke coming up.

Another slow start

Playing the first half with a poor tempo and lacking the fighting spirit, is a common theme which has occurred for Arsenal recently. Though the first half performance was nowhere near as abject as the one against Chelsea, it still seemed as though Arsenal were sitting back slightly and taking it easy.

After the gunner’s great win at home to the hammers on Wednesday, many of us would have expected this game to continue where the last game left off, especially since we were against Championship opposition in this match.

Though it was Arsenal who scored first through a good Giroud goal, you could feel that there was a sense of lethargy in the team compared to the way they played in the first half. If we continue to play this way against the big boys, we will get ripped apart.

Where we won the match

Brighton played just as they have always played under Gus Poyet, in an attacking way, and it is through this that Arsenal were allowed to play there brilliant counter attack football, which lead to Giroud’s first goal.

The game ultimately changed in our favour with the introduction of Wilshere and Walcott on the 70 minute mark. Wilshere took control of the game in the middle of the park, and both players gave our attack more fluidity and urgency.

Defensively poor

The one aspect of the side which was most disappointing today was the defence.

Brighton were allowed too many chances today, and both the goals they scored were down to very poor defending on our part, through a lack of marking and bad goalkeeping.

Szczesny, after making a very smart save early on in the match, was then the culprit for Brighton’s first goal as he came out to collect a corner and allowed Ashley Barnes to get in front of him and head home. He was not helped by the defending though either.

The defence was then answerable again as Brighton equalised for a second time through Ulloa, as the marking going on inside the box was pretty much non-existent.

However, the main culprit of the day was Andre Santos. The man is not a left back, and was left wanting far too many times today as the majority of Brighton’s attacks came down his flank. Even though Gibbs only came on with 10 minutes to go, you could sense that the defence was much stronger straight away.

With a defence like this you always feel that the opposition may score, something which with Adams and Bould in defence you knew wouldn’t as they would close the game out. Hopefully, they can work on this in training, to help ease the Arsenal fans sense of doubt.

Positives to take

Of course we can always be pleased to see the Arsenal win and progress through to the next round of the cup, in what is our only realistic hope of silverware, but there were other positives to take.

Olivier Giroud followed up his brace on Wednesday with another two goals today. The striker is constantly improving and seems to have regained his confidence as his performance today was very good, and he could have had a hat trick after brilliant control from the French man. If he continues to perform like this, then at least we know we will continue to score goals

Although he did not have the greatest of games, it was good to see Tomas Rosicky back in the starting line up after a long period, as I feel that he brings an attacking flair to our side that is sometimes missed, as well as a lot of experience.

When Jack Wilshere came on today the match was still hanging in the balance, but he took control of the game and showed his leadership credentials. This only reinforced the point that Jack should be Arsenal captain soon.

A special mention to Carl Jenkinson who did his job today, after replacing the out of form Bacary Sagna. Hopefully his performance today will encourage Wenger to start with the young Englishman in future.

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