Caicedo takes centre stage as Brighton head to Arsenal

Before the whole Moises Caicedo January transfer window circus involving Arsenal, you got the impression that most Brighton fans would have been happy to see the Gunners to claim their first Premier League title since 2004.

In a two horse race between Mikel Arteta’s surprise packages and big spending City, it was Arsenal who were clearly the more palatable option.

The Gunners possessed a likeable, young, attacking side. They would provide a different name on the trophy, putting a halt to the monotony of City lifting the championship every year.

An Arsenal win might have even given us a break from Sheikh Mansour’s sportswashing, whereby the entire world associates Abu Dhabi with the Premier League champions rather than human rights abuses, modern day slavery, persecution of the LGBTQ+ community… you get the picture.

But then January happened and opinions in Sussex of Arsenal were badly soured, to the point that people would rather see a club charged with around 100 breaches of financial fair play regulations on their way to buying three Premier League titles buy a fourth ahead of the Gunners.

At boardroom level, Brighton and Arsenal had a good relationship. The clubs worked closely on Leandro Trossard’s £25 million move earlier in the winter transfer window and before that, the £50 million transfer of Ben White 18 months earlier.

And there was no problem with the Gunners making their initial bid of £60 million for Caicedo. It was what happened after, when Arsenal were told in no uncertain terms by the Albion that Caicedo was not for sale in January that the problems began.

Because Arsenal did not listen to Brighton. They came in with another bid of £70 million. They tried to unsettle the player, leading to that ill-advised Instagram statement posted on Caicedo’s account by his newly appointed agent.

The Gunners thought they could force Tony Bloom into selling at the price they wanted to pay. Instead, all they ended up achieving was pissing Brighton off to the point the Albion are now reluctant to do any future business with them.

If Arsenal want Caicedo this summer, the asking price will be even bigger to compensate for the annoyance they have caused Bloom. He is a man who does not forgive and forget those he dislikes easily; just ask Dick Knight, Gus Poyet or Matthew Benham.

Such classlessness was not merely restricted to the way the Gunners conducted themselves in their attempts to sign Caicedo.

It also extended to their supporters, whose arrogance and entitlement was surprising for a club without a Premier League title since Tony Blair was prime minister.

They seemed to think Arsenal could click their fingers and Brighton should dance to their tune, accepting any offer and allowing Caicedo to move just because the Gunners are a bigger club.

One fan even tried to put forward the argument that Caicedo should take the Albion to an employment tribunal, citing anti-slavery legislation as Brighton were keeping him at the Amex against his will.

As if Caicedo were chained to a radiator in Bloom’s office and the only way to escape was cutting his own ankle off, like that unfortunate chap in the first Saw movie.

It is to this background that Caicedo will step out at the Emirates Stadium in a Brighton shirt and very much the centre of attention.

Perhaps even more so than before, given what has happened since the transfer window slammed shut with him still playing for the Albion.

At the end of January, Arsenal were five points clear of City at the top of the table with a game in hand. Things were looking good for Arteta and co.

A combination of some disappointing results and Pep Guardiola’s side being pretty much unstoppable in the second half of the campaign has seen that advantage overturned, and now the Gunners trail City by a point having played a game more.

This is not what some of the more vocal Arsenal supporters told us would happen. Apparently, Caicedo was going to be so upset at not moving to Arsenal that he would down tools and cause a revolt at the Amex, leading to Brighton falling away into mid table whilst the Gunners won the league.

How wrong can you be? Caicedo instead returned from a brief period of gardening leave once the transfer window had blown over, since when he has been sensational.

Even better than he was before Arsenal did their best to turn his head. That says a lot about what a professional Caicedo is.

He has even signed a new contract with Brighton, giving him a wage which better reflects his importance to the team and strengthening the Albion’s bargaining power when further bids inevitably arrive this summer.

There is every chance that Caicedo could now become the pivotal individual on the afternoon when Arsenal’s title bid was finally ended.

Most pundits and fans believe the Gunners have to beat Brighton to remain in the race with City. If Caicedo can keep Martin Odegaard quiet in what is sure to be an intriguing midfield battle, Arsenal’s chances will be seriously diminished.

Caicedo has of course added an extra string to his bow in recent weeks, showing previously unseen versatility by man marking Marcus Rashford at right back when Brighton beat Manchester United 1-0 at the Amex.

If Roberto De Zerbi decides that Bukayo Saka against Pascal Gross might be a slight mismatch for pace, then Caicedo may find himself being asked to the same job he did on Rashford against the outstanding young Arsenal winger.

Stop Saka and you have a good chance of stopping Arsenal. Such a role for Caicedo would also highlight even more to those at the Emirates what a nonsense their £70 million bid was.

The Caicedo saga will no doubt provide extra motivation for Brighton, who will also be fired up having lost 5-1 at home to Everton last time out.

De Zerbi promised a reaction to that hammering and there would be no better place to deliver it than the Emirates, where Brighton have already won this season to eliminate the Gunners from the Carabao Cup in November.

That was the latest in an impressive series of results in the red corner of North London, several of which have proven terminal to Arsenal’s hopes and aims for the campaign.

A 1-1 draw secured by Chris Hughton in April 2019 ended the Gunners’ dreams of qualifying for the Champions League, leading to Yves Bissouma very famously having a laughing fit on the pitch at full time.

When Graham Potter masterminded last season’s 2-1 win at the Emirates, Arsenal had won six and lost two of their previous eight games to move into top four contention.

Defeat though to Trossard and Enock Mwepu goals – on the day Caicedo made his Premier League debut – left the Gunners three points off the Champions League spots. They never recovered, having to settle for a fifth place finish behind hated rivals Spurs.

Denying Arsenal Champions League football is one thing. To be the side who potentially put the final nail in the coffin of their title ambitions quite another. After what happened in January, here is hoping.