Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has insisted any lingering tension between himself and Brighton & Hove Albion boss Fabian Huerzeler is firmly in the past as the Premier League champions prepare to visit Brighton on Saturday. The fixture marks Arsenal’s first return to the venue since a contentious clash in March, where the Gunners were forced to dig deep to secure a narrow victory. Following that heated encounter, Huerzeler took direct aim at Arsenal’s tactical approach, accusing Arteta’s side of wasting time while taking corners before later sending a text message to apologize to his counterpart.
Speaking on Friday, Arteta confirmed that the disagreement between the two touchline figures has been entirely put to rest. The Spaniard emphasized his deep admiration for the work taking place at Brighton while maintaining complete focus on the challenge ahead. “That’s all done. That’s all in the past,” Arteta stated. “I have huge respect for Fabian and what Brighton have done as a club. It’s just remarkable, and tomorrow is going to be a beautiful game to watch, I’m sure. We’re going to have a really tough opponent tomorrow, we have to earn the right to win the game.”
Saturday’s contest presents a formidable physical test for Arsenal, who are navigating their fourth consecutive away fixture in a demanding period across domestic and European football. Arteta’s side travels south buoyed by impressive momentum on the road, having recorded three straight away victories. That travel-heavy sequence began with a win at Napoli in the Champions League, followed by a Premier League victory at Sunderland, and continued with a midweek League Cup win over Ipswich Town.
Despite their winning form, Arsenal face pressing fitness questions along their backline ahead of the weekend. Key defenders Cristhian Mosquera, Jurrien Timber, Ben White, and Piero Hincapie were all sidelined for the midweek victory against Ipswich Town and require evaluation in the squad’s final pre-match training session. Arteta confirmed that all four players are eager to participate, while also addressing overall club alignment by noting that shared ambitions will ensure off-field matters are resolved smoothly. “We have another session. They are all willing to be part of it and we have another session to make sure they are fit,” Arteta explained.
