Brighton manager Fabian Hürzeler has expressed admiration for Arsenal, stressing that if the Gunners win the Premier League this season, they will fully deserve it.

According to a post by Fabrizio Romano on X on Friday, the Brighton manager said, “I will be the first one to congratulate Arsenal when they win the Premier League, because if they win it, they will definitely deserve it.”

The comments come after a period of intense debate surrounding his previous remarks, which he says were taken out of context.

“There were things that made me emotional, I am a person that sticks to my principles… and it created a lot of noise,” he explained.

He confirmed that he had reached out personally to Arsenal’s manager, Mikel Arteta.

“I’ve texted Arteta. I have huge respect for him, one of the top managers in the Premier League. I love to see them play, and I admire a lot of elements of what they are doing. My comments were nothing personal.”

The statement underscores his respect for Arsenal’s style of play and the achievements of Arteta’s team, emphasising that past remarks should not be interpreted as criticism of the club or its manager.