Arsenal defender Gabriel Magalhaes has issued a defiant response to thecomplaints of Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler in the wake of Wednesday’s fractious Premier League clash.

The Gunners were a long way from at their best at the Amex, careless with the ball and too accommodating in letting their hosts play through them in midfield.

Nevertheless, they dug in for a third league win in a row, and on a night when Manchester City dropped points at home this was one more fixture crossed out in their Premier League title push as they surged seven points clear.

Much of the post match discourse, however, centered on Hurzeler and his coruscating assessment of the league leaders.

‘I think there was only one team that tried to play football today, he said. ‘Did you see in a Premier League game a goalkeeper going down the times? No?

‘We shouldn’t waste too many words about that tonight. We can’t control these kind of things. The Premier League has to find a rule. In the end it’s about the rules. If the Premier League and referee allow everything, then it’s difficult.

‘They make their own rules. At the moment I have the feeling they...