João Pedro earns point for Brighton against Arsenal after Nwaneri opener
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If Arsenal are serious about winning the Premier League this season then Mikel Arteta may want to rethink his plans for the January transfer market. This was another two points dropped in the race to keep up with pacesetters Liverpool as a penalty from João Pedro cancelled out Ethan Nwaneri’s second Premier League goal. But it could have been even worse had Fabian Hürzeler’s side taken their chances in a second half when they were much improved.
![[Ethan Nwaneri celebrates after scoring Arsenal’s goal against Brighton.]](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/4c93a8b46df190c73b159ad45ad31713ec531d5c/0_86_5369_3222/master/5369.jpg?width=445&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none)
Despite extending their unbeaten run in all competitions to 12 matches, Arsenal have become too reliant on their prowess from set pieces and were hanging on at the end in the face of concerted Brighton pressure. Arteta has so far insisted that he is happy with the squad at his disposal yet he surely needs reinforcements in attack given the extended absence of talisman Bukayo Saka and other obstacles that are presenting themselves.
With the prospect of seven more games to come this month, the sickness bug that again meant Arsenal were without Kai Havertz and could only name Martin Ødegaard and Gabriel Martinelli on the bench was not exactly helpful for Arteta’s plans. He entrusted Nwaneri with a second successive start on the right flank after the teenager impressed on his full Premier League debut against Brentford, while Leandro Trossard – who was booed throughout – was recalled against his former club on the left. Jorginho also returned to the starting lineup for the first time in almost a month alongside Declan Rice and Mikel Merino in a midfield that looked short of creativity without their captain.
