Brighton manager Graham Potter has told supporters to stop telling his players to shoot ahead of their clash with Arsenal next Saturday. It comes as the Seagulls are without a win in their last seven Premier League games.
The clash could be crucial in the Gunners ’ top four push towards the back end of the season, with Crystal Palace still to play beforehand. Mikel Arteta has guided his side to fifth so far, level on points with Tottenham in fourth but with two games in hand on the Lilywhites.
With Manchester United, Chelsea, West Ham and Spurs all to come before the end of the season, it could be a difficult run in for that final Champions League place. Those games only put further emphasis on winning matches against those sides lower in the table.
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Discussing the table and top four ambitions last month, Arteta said he doesn’t want to focus on the standings just yet: “I look at the table with the games that we have remaining. We know where we are but we have to look forward, we have to look what we do, focus on our performance and prepare for the next match. That’s it because the rest we’re just gonna be guessing. I’m not a great gambler, I never have been, and I don’t want to gamble now.”
With the need for results ramping up on the Spaniard, there will be no better time to face Brighton, given their current form. The Seagulls are without a win in seven Premier League games, scoring just once in that time.
This has led to the supporters getting frustrated at times, urging their players to shoot from less likely positions as they feel pressured to create. Potter has since come out and told his fans to stop doing so, saying it puts pressure on his players.
He said: “The build-up suggests we’re getting there. Of course, the longer you go, you can hear the crowd, ‘shoot, shoot, shoot’, you know, and that sometimes is a challenge for the players. Because sometimes there’s an opportunity to shoot - sometimes it’s a chance for the block and then the transition. And sometimes maybe one more pass gets you in a better position but, if you miss the pass, you should have shot.
“It’s just one of those things that we’re going through. A bit of pain and a bit of suffering. So, then, that does affect confidence. It affects a little bit of the final bit.”
Whether that plea to the supporters will work remains to be seen when they make the trip to the Emirates next week. The frustration could, in fact, work in the Gunners’ favour.
