Lewis Dunk’s omission from Lee Carsley’s first squad as England’s interim head coach should benefit Brighton & Hove Albion.
The 32-year-old captain can spend the rest of his career focusing on leading from the front with the character and quality he showed in Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Arsenal — and there will be a reduced risk of injuries and fatigue.
Dunk’s absence from the England set-up for the Nations League games against the Republic of Ireland and Finland was not much of a surprise. Gareth Southgate’s successor wanted to put his own stamp on the squad and look to the future following the European Championship this summer.
That included naming 21-year-old Levi Colwill, who thrived at Brighton with Dunk while on loan from Chelsea in 2022-23.
Dunk was a controversial pick over Everton prospect Jarrad Branthwaite for Euro 2024, having been brought back into contention by Southgate after five years in the international wilderness since his debut in 2018. He ended up as an enthusiastic non-playing member of the squad that was beaten in the final by Spain.
On Saturday, Dunk was involved in both goals against Arsenal at the Emirates.
Errors have been few and far between during his 14-year senior career at Brighton, spanning more than 460 appearances, but he was at fault for Arsenal taking a 38th-minute lead through Karl Havertz on Saturday.
Dunk, at 6ft 4in (192cm), has a big height advantage over Arsenal’s 5ft 8in England winger Bukayo Saka. Yet he did not deal with Saka in an aerial duel from a high ball pumped forward by Jurrien Timber.
The ball broke for Saka to release Havertz as Dunk’s partner Jan Paul van Hecke tried to cover.
And Havertz’s chipped finish over goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen left Fabian Hurzeler’s side facing an uphill battle.
Hurzeler said: “He knows that was not the best defending. But for me a leader is how he reacts. Every player on the pitch makes mistakes and then it is about how you react. Still being present on the pitch, still asking for the ball, still playing in the way he did to help us to a draw.”
Dunk demonstrated a different aspect of his game — what he does in possession — with his pivotal contribution to Brighton’s 58th minute equaliser. Arsenal had been reduced to ten men by the dismissal of Declan Rice nine minutes earlier for two bookable offences.
He provided a superb through ball for Yankuba Minteh to run on to and split the Arsenal defence…
Minteh’s shot was parried by Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya, but Joao Pedro swept in the rebound to maintain Brighton’s unbeaten start to the season under Hurzeler.
“It’s amazing how he reacted after the mistake,” Hurzeler said of Dunk. “So, I will never judge him by making these mistakes. I am very happy with how he reacted. He is a great leader. He is a great captain and very important for us.”
Dunk has always been comfortable in possession since making his debut in 2010 as an 18-year-old when Brighton were in League One. They were often up against it in their first two seasons in the Premier League as underdogs under Chris Hughton from 2017-19.
That allowed Dunk to showcase his strong defending inside his own penalty area with then-partner Shane Duffy. He has developed and matured as his passing style has evolved under Graham Potter, Roberto De Zerbi and now, Hurzeler.
The German, a year younger than his captain, is the latest of seven managers and head coaches Dunk has played for during his Brighton career to appreciate what a towering figure he is for the club. Hurzeler had talks with Dunk about the senior role he has to play in his plans while he was on England duty in Germany.
Carsley’s decision to leave Dunk out almost certainly signals the end of his England career. “We will support him,” Hurzeler said. “Me as head coach, the whole club and the whole staff. And also the team will support him.
“He knows his body the best. We are not in his body. He makes a decision on his own, so let’s see how his future will be. I hope that he will continue his career at Brighton for a long time because he is a great player, a great character.”
The game ended at Arsenal with Brighton-born Dunk as passionate as ever. He looked to the heavens in dismay as he ran back to the halfway line after substitute Pervis Estupinan shot ambitiously and wildly from a set piece that could have been a chance to put the ball into the box.
Dunk’s 32nd goal for Brighton will have to wait, but there will be many more matches and chances for him to lead them to wins in his hugely impressive spell at the club.
