Former Arsenal captain Tony Adams has defended Mesut Ozil after he clashed with coach Per Mertesacker following the defeat to Brighton .

Arsenal's dismal season continued on Thursday night as they were beaten 2-1 by Brighton at the Emirates.

Ozil was seen gesturing in the direction of former teammate Mertesacker, who is assisting interim boss Freddie Ljungberg.

But Adams believes it showed the defeat meant something to the German.

"I don't mind that actually. There's a little bit of spirit there. I don't mind that," Adams told Premier League productions.

"Maybe he should have done it before the game. Before the game take that attitude on to the pitch.

"The game's gone now, it's all over.

"If he'd got the frustration out before the game and say 'I'm really go and run around and do my stuff today'. He's frustrated, obviously."

Adams also insisted Mertesacker had made the wrong choice by leaving his role as academy boss to help Ljungberg.

He added: "'He's got to do the recruitment for the future of the club. We've got to produce players.

"That's more important than what's going on today on that football pitch.

"You need to build the future of Arsenal Football Club, Per Mertesacker.

"That's what he's got to do, concentrate on that. Go and find the players, go and sort that out. You can't take him out. What's the academy doing at the moment?"