Arsenal defender Gabriel Magalhaes has firmly rejected accusations from Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler that the Gunners engaged in deliberate time-wasting during their recent Premier League clash. The Brazilian centre-back emphasised that his team remains unconcerned with external criticism, focusing solely on maintaining their winning momentum in the title race.
Hurzeler's Fiery Press Conference Remarks
Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler launched a pointed critique of Arsenal's tactics both before and after his team's 1-0 defeat at the Amex Stadium on Wednesday night. In his pre-match comments, the German tactician alleged that Mikel Arteta's title-chasing side consistently delayed restarts from corners and throw-ins to disrupt the game's flow.
During the match itself, Hurzeler, his players, and the home supporters repeatedly appealed to referee Chris Kavanagh about the frequency of stoppages. The Brighton boss escalated his criticism post-match, asserting that "only one team tried to play football" in a clear dig at Arsenal's approach.
Gabriel's Defiant Response
Speaking exclusively to ESPN Brasil, Gabriel Magalhaes delivered a blunt rebuttal to Hurzeler's claims. "We don't really care about what he says," declared the Arsenal defender. "That is for the referee to decide on the pitch. If he wants to give a yellow card or not, he decides the time we take. We just have to do things the way we are doing and keep going."
The Brazilian international stressed that Arsenal's primary concern remains their own performance rather than external commentary. "We have to concentrate on ourselves and keep going the way we are," Gabriel added. "Now it's three wins in a row, and of course we have to keep winning. That's the most important thing."
Arsenal's Title Charge Strengthens
The victory over Brighton extended Arsenal's lead at the Premier League summit to seven points after Manchester City dropped points in a surprising home draw against relegation-threatened Nottingham Forest. While acknowledging the significance of this development in ending Arsenal's 22-year wait for top-flight glory, Gabriel urged his teammates to maintain their grounded approach.
Bukayo Saka, who scored on his 300th appearance for his boyhood club, echoed this sentiment of ignoring detractors. "We don't listen to that stuff," Saka stated. "I don't see it, I don't read it. It is not beneficial in any way. We just want to continue going our way, winning."
Upcoming Fixture Challenges
The Premier League leaders face a demanding schedule across multiple competitions. Arsenal travel to League One side Mansfield Town on Saturday lunchtime seeking progression to the FA Cup quarter-finals. This is followed by a crucial Champions League encounter at Bayer Leverkusen on Wednesday evening before hosting Everton in the Premier League next weekend.
As the season enters its decisive phase, Arsenal's players appear united in their determination to block out external noise and concentrate on securing silverware through their established methods.
