Arsenal held off a late Brighton fightback and once more lent heavily on their excellent defence as they moved back to the top of the Premier League table with a 2-1 victory
Martin Odegaard of Arsenal celebrates with Martín Zubimendi and Viktor Gyökeres
Martin Odegaard of Arsenal celebrates with Martín Zubimendi and Viktor Gyökeres
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The good news for Arsenal fans is that the Gunners held off a late Brighton fightback to return to the top of the Premier League table. The bad news is that there is potentially another five months of this nerve-jangling anxiety to go this season.
But Mikel Arteta’s side passed this latest test at the Emirates Stadium with help of another own goal - and big performances from their big players. As they chase the Quadruple, the trio of Martin Odegaard, Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice combined to score the opening goal - and calm the nervous atmosphere building even in the early minutes. And then kept calm and carried on at the end after Diego Gomez’s shot halved the deficit and doubled the heart-rate.
It had been a whipped corner from Rice which saw Arsenal benefit from a fourth own goal in their last three matches after the break. Yet it needed a stunning late save by keeper David Raya from a Yankuba Minteh shot to secure the win which saw Arsenal take back top from Manchester City.
The run-in promises to be a fraught affair for the Gunners fans without a Premier League title since 2004. But after the wobble against Wolves - where Mikel Arteta’s team needed two own goals to scramble a win - captain Odegaard showed immaculate timing to net his first Arsenal goal of the season with a little help from his friends.
The afternoon had not started well for the Gunners. A late Rayan Cherkhi winner saw Manchester City overtake Arsenal at the top while Riccardo Calafiori suffered an injury in the warm-up.
With Ben White out with a hamstring strain and no Jurrien Timber in the squad, a club which has spent £1bn in the transfer market had no recognised right-back and £105m midfielder Rice was shifted back.
After a poor pass out by Bart Verbruggen, Rice headed the ball forward to Saka and raced forward on the overlap. The England winger fed the Norwegian who had the time and space to drill home his shot from the edge of the box.
Martin Odegaard and Declan Rice celebrate the Norwegian's opener
Martin Odegaard and Declan Rice celebrate the Norwegian's opener
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(Image: Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC)
It was a good team goal from good team players who have underachieved trophy-wise in their careers.
For all his talent, Odegaard has lifted one Copa del Rey with Real Sociedad and one Community Shield at Arsenal.
Rice claimed the UEFA Conference League with West Ham. And Saka was on the bench when Arsenal won the 2020 FA Cup final. It is time for them all to win more. And this was another big step with a sixth Premier League home win in a row now against a Brighton side with a good record at the Emirates. The Seagulls had lost only three of their last eight away games at Arsenal and drew here last season after Rice was sent off.
This time the Gunners won thanks to a 12th set-piece strike of the season - and another own goal. Opposition players are comfortably outscoring Viktor Gyokeres who was subbed off for Gabriel Jesus after 71 minutes. Kai Havertz is needed in the New Year. Gabriel Magahalaes also came on as a second-half sub to huge applause. He is another huge player for Arsenal.
Bukayo Saka is challenged by Lewis Dunk
Bukayo Saka is challenged by Lewis Dunk
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(Image: AP)
But how open is this title race? After Manchester United snuck up to fifth place on Friday night and within 10 points of the top, Ayden Heaven claimed the Old Trafford club are contenders. That is partly youthful exuberance. But also recognition that Arsenal and Manchester City are not vintage teams nor proven winners.
The classic 2018-19 title race saw Pep Guardiola’s relentless team deny Jurgen Klopp on the final day by a single point. City and Arsenal could have another tight tussle this season - though Aston Villa will have a say on that here on Tuesday - but neither of the top two are guaranteed to close the deal.
It is up to Odegaard, Saka and Rice to make this season different from all the recent near misses.
As Odegaard said in his programme notes: “We relish the fight and know what is at stake, so we have to leave absolutely everything out there and play from the first whistle to the last in every single game.”
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