Brighton and Arsenal played out a goalless draw in the pouring rain at the Amex Stadium.
After an even first ten minutes, the Seagulls were by far the better team, outplaying their opponents for much of the game.
They should have taken the lead midway through the first half, Lewis Dunk blazing over from just outside the six-yard box after Aaron Ramsdale had dropped Neal Maupay’s cross. Whether it would have counted is uncertain, however, replays showing Shane Duffy jumping into the Arsenal goalkeeper after he’d dropped it.
They went close again seven minutes later, former Brighton defender Ben White doing well to turn Jakub Moder’s cross over the top of his own goal after the Pole had been played in behind the Arsenal defence following a good passing move.
Seagulls defender Dan Burn then headed wide when well placed inside the Arsenal box, as did Duffy, the Irish international only able to find the side netting from Leandro Trossard’s corner.
Arsenal, who were a yard off the pace, still had chances on the break, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang finding the outside of the post from a header after good work by Bukayo Saka, and Thomas Partey beating Robert Sanchez but stroking his shot from outside of the box two yards wide of the post.
Nonetheless, the home side continued to dominate during the second half, albeit without initially creating the same number of chances.
Indeed, it was Arsenal who should have taken the lead in the 76th minute, Emile Smith Rowe firing straight at Sanchez when through on goal following a rapid counter attack.
That chance reinvigorated the home side in the final ten minutes, Trossard forcing Ramsdale into action with a tame effort before Cucurella, who was the best player on the pitch, forced a better save from the English goalkeeper, the Spaniard’s cross-come-shot being palmed away by the 23-year-old.
Ramsdale, who was recalled to the England squad yesterday, then produced a huge interception, sticking out a big right hand to prevent Maupay from having a tap in.
There was still time for the Seagulls side to have one more chance, Duffy again heading wide at the back post from a corner.
After being delighted to have snatched a point at Crystal Palace on Monday night, the draw with Arsenal will have therefore frustrated Potter and his team, their finishing problems from last season surfacing for the first time in this campaign after a great start.
Arsenal, meanwhile, will have been happy to come away with an undeserved point but frustrated with their own performance, unable to build on the strong display in last week’s North London derby.
They do move back into the top half and up to 9th, however, after results from earlier in the day had seen them drop down to 11th.
The point for Brighton means they stay 4 ahead of their opponents, also moving above Manchester City into 5th.
