Arsenal reaches the finish line, still accused of ruining football.

Arsenal's narrow 1-0 victory over Brighton in the Premier League not only solidified their position at the top of the table but also sparked intense debate about the Gunners' style of play.

After the match, Brighton's manager Fabian Hurzeler bluntly criticized Arsenal for excessively using time-wasting tactics, even stating that this approach is "ruining football".

The only goal of the match was scored by Bukayo Saka in the first half, which was enough for Arsenal to secure all three points and extend their lead to seven points ahead of their closest rivals in the title race. However, according to Hurzeler, the way Arsenal protected their lead is what disappointed him.

The German coach argued that the match's flow was disrupted by prolonged stoppages, particularly from goalkeeper David Raya. Hurzeler pointed out that Arsenal's goalkeeper repeatedly stayed down or slowed the game down, significantly reducing the actual playing time.

"For me, that is no longer football," Hurzeler said in the post-match press conference. "The Premier League needs to establish clearer regulations to address this issue. Otherwise, such situations will continue to occur."

Not only complaining about time-wasting, Brighton also expressed frustration over a controversial incident in the first half. The home team at the Amex believed they deserved a penalty when Gabriel Martinelli pulled Mats Wieffer in the box. However, after a VAR review, referee Chris Kavanagh decided not to overturn the initial call, stating there was no "clear and obvious error".

Nevertheless, Hurzeler emphasized that the bigger issue is not the penalty. In his view, the concerning trend is the increasing prevalence of slowing down the game's tempo. "Every team can manage the game, but there must be limits. If the rules are not clear enough, teams will exploit the loopholes to do what they want."

Brighton's manager also proposed that the Premier League should take stronger action against time-wasting, such as adding more stoppage time or issuing stricter yellow cards. He believes this responsibility should not fall entirely on the referees, as they are forced to handle difficult situations without specific guidelines.

Meanwhile, Hurzeler still praised his players for their performance against Arsenal. He stated that Brighton tried to play proactively and create a more open game, even though they ultimately could not avoid defeat.

"My players gave their all. We tried to play proper football, and I am proud of that,"Hurzeler said. "But if we want more entertaining football for the fans, we need clearer rules to protect the spirit of the game."

Hurzeler's comments immediately attracted significant attention in England, as Arsenal are strong contenders for the title. However, the controversy also raises a familiar question in modern football: is winning at all costs changing the very nature of the game?