Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has moved to put last season’s disagreement with Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler behind them ahead of Saturday’s Premier League meeting between the two sides.
The two managers were involved in a war of words after Arsenal’s 1-0 victory over Brighton at the Amex Stadium in March.
Following the defeat, Hurzeler criticised Arsenal’s approach, claiming that Brighton were the only team that had tried to play football during the encounter. The German also accused the Gunners of “making their own rules”.
The comments generated attention at the time, but with Arsenal returning to the Amex this weekend, Arteta has made it clear that he has no lingering issues with his Brighton counterpart.
“That’s all done. That’s all in the past,” Arteta told reporters on Friday.
“I have huge respect for Fabian, and what he’s done and what Brighton has done as a club.
“It’s just remarkable, and tomorrow is going to be a beautiful game to watch, I’m sure.”
Hurzeler, however, maintained this week that he still stood by the opinion he expressed after last season’s encounter, while also acknowledging Arsenal’s achievements.
“I think it’s very important that in football there are opinions. I will definitely always share my opinion if I am asked,” he said.
“But, in the end, I congratulate Arsenal for being deserved champions. They deserved it.”
The latest comments suggest the disagreement has been put to rest as both managers prepare for another competitive meeting, with Arsenal looking to continue their impressive start to the new Premier League campaign.
The Gunners have won their opening four league matches to sit at the top of the table and have also made a strong start in other competitions.
Arteta’s side opened their Champions League campaign with victory over Napoli before securing a place in the Carabao Cup fourth round with a win over Ipswich Town on Tuesday.
Teenage midfielder Max Dowman was the standout performer against Ipswich, scoring twice on his first appearance of the season.
The 16-year-old has now strengthened his case for more opportunities in Arteta’s first team after initially being left as an unused substitute during the opening weeks of the campaign.
Arteta, however, said Dowman’s performances rather than conversations away from the pitch would determine his chances of getting more playing time.
“The best way to knock on the door is to do it on the pitch, not in the office,” he said.
“When a player delivers constantly on the pitch, every single day in training, that’s the best way, that’s the best signal for the manager.”
Including their Community Shield victory over Manchester City, Arsenal have won seven consecutive matches and could equal the club’s 123-year record for the best start to a campaign with another victory on the south coast.
Arteta acknowledged the significance of the run but stressed the difficulty of maintaining such consistency at the highest level.
“We know how complicated it is to win a football match at this level. So, to win seven, it tells a story,” he said.
The Spaniard also reflected on the uncertainty surrounding Arsenal after the World Cup and praised his players for adapting quickly.
“After the World Cup, there were a lot of unknowns about how the players and the team were going to react. We didn’t have any time with them to work together.
“But I said from day one, the attitude and what I was seeing, I was really impressed with. Then you have to put it down to performances.”
Meanwhile, Arteta’s future at Arsenal remains a subject of discussion, with negotiations over a contract extension reportedly continuing.
The Arsenal manager, however, said there was no reason for concern over the situation.
“I think we are all very much aligned; whenever the time is right we’ll get that done. There is nothing to be concerned about,” Arteta said.