Arteta draws a line under Brighton dispute as Gyokeres seeks Arsenal spark

Mikel Arteta says his disagreement with Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler is now “part of the past” as Arsenal prepare to return to the Amex on Saturday, with Viktor Gyokeres also hoping to revive his difficult start for the London club.

The two managers clashed after Arsenal’s 1-0 victory at Brighton in March last season, a result which helped Arteta’s side continue their challenge for the Premier League title.

Tensions continued after the final whistle, while Hurzeler later criticised Arsenal’s approach to the match by saying that “only one team tried to play football”.

Arteta, however, has played down the incident before the clubs meet again and said there is mutual respect between the pair.

“It is all over and part of the past,” said the Arsenal manager. “I have huge respect for Fabian and what he has done, and also for what Brighton have achieved. It is truly remarkable.

“I am sure we are going to see a great game tomorrow.”

Gyokeres faces former club

Saturday’s match could also see Sweden striker Viktor Gyokeres play against his former club, offering him a chance to regain confidence after a difficult beginning to life at Arsenal.

Gyokeres is expected to start on the bench, with the forward still working to rediscover his best form. Kai Havertz, by contrast, has made a steadier start and has scored three goals in six matches.

Arteta is not concerned by Gyokeres’ early struggles and believes the striker needs more playing time and minutes to adapt and produce his best football.

“Especially in the Premier League, he has not played a huge amount of minutes,” Arteta said. “But he played in Napoli last week and had a good performance. I think it is also about taking the right moments.”

The manager added that helping Gyokeres find his level is a collective responsibility involving the coaching staff and the rest of the squad.

“We have to give him all the support and confidence he needs to put in the performances required,” he said. “We know very well the player’s qualities, his ability to score goals and what he can give the team.

“The team is also doing things slightly differently this season. It is a mixture of both sides, and this is not specific to Viktor; it applies to everybody.”

Arteta said Arsenal remain in a continual process of development, with the players still adapting to changes in the team’s style and needing time to build understanding.

“It is an ongoing evolution for both the player and the team,” he said. “Our role, and particularly mine, is to try to bring those elements together, find the right connections and build the level of confidence that allows the player to perform at his best for the team.”

For Gyokeres, Arteta believes the route back to form is straightforward: more minutes and goals.

“For a striker, it is quite clear,” he said. “He needs minutes and he needs to score goals, because that gives him a big boost mentally. We have a game tomorrow and hopefully he can do that.”