Arsenal picked up another ugly, but crucial three points in their Premier League title pursuit at Brighton thanks to Bukayo Saka scoring the only goal of the game after just nine minutes. A result made even better by Manchester City dropping points at home to Nottingham Forest.
The Gunners claimed three points against Chelsea last time out to keep themselves in the driving seat ahead of Manchester City at the top of the table. However, it was far from convincing the 2-1 win against the Blues as set-piece goals and a mad red card to Pedro Neto papered over a game where they found themselves second best at times.
And the job didn’t look like getting any easier as they took on a Brighton team now looking up the table rather than down off the back of consecutive wins, and the Seagulls are known for derailing Arsenal’s season.
Bukayo Saka
Bukayo Saka's deflected effort found the net inside 10 minutes (Image: AFP via Getty Images)
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Albion drew both games against the Gunners last season and ended their title hopes in 2022 with a 2-1 win at the Emirates before returning to north London the following May to win 3-0. Throw in Neal Maupay’s winner in 2020 and a 1-1 draw in 2019 ending their Champions League bid in tears – Arsenal don’t have fond memories of playing Brighton.
Arsenal’s preparation were hit hard too by William Saliba falling to recover from a knock picked up against Chelsea to make the squad, seeing Cristian Mosquera brought into the starting line-up – and the 21-year-old was booked just 11 minutes in after being dragged out wide and skinned.
However, the away end behind the far goal had been celebrating just two minutes earlier when Saka’s direct run and shot from outside the box was deflected through the legs of Bart Verbruggen to give the Gunners an incredibly soft lead.
Bukayo Saka
Bukayo Saka's goal put the visitors in control (Image: Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Just one more shot on target followed in the first half on the south coast to end a half lacking quality but one that would have inspired Fabian Hurzeler’s team talk with Brighton the side posing the greater threat.
Dominating possession, having almost three times as many touches in the opposition box and limiting Arsenal to just one shot in the entire half, Brighton were comfortably the better team but lacked the quality in the final third.
Arsenal’s inability to get Viktor Gyokeres in the game was epitomised by the big Swede losing the ball 11 times from 15 touches and giving away three fouls in the first half.
The second half started the way the first ended and Arteta was again forced into another early change to try and turn the tide. Just like he did against Chelsea, the Arsenal boss changed his left-winger by bringing on Leandro Trossard, but Gyokeres was also withdrawn for Kai Havertz on the hour mark.
But it didn’t immediately change the complexion of the game as Yankuba Minteh raced past Mosquera, who was lucky he didn’t foul the flying winger for a penalty and potentially a second yellow card, but his cross was bundled wide by a retreating Arsenal body.
Mosquera’s latest challenge was his last as Arteta again acted swiftly to substitute him for Riccardo Calafiori.
Arteta's changes paid off as the Gunners frustrated Brighton, and late yellow cards for Oliver Boscagli and Ferdi Kadioglu showed as much. Arsenal's approach certainly wound up the Brighton fans and neutrals as the visitors tried every trick in the book to stop the game and the hosts' momentum.
Just like Chelsea, it was all hands on deck for Arsenal at the end as David Raya had to command his box to deny any late headed efforts on his goal in added time.
But Arsenal held out and are now seven points clear at the top after relegation-threatened Forest twice came from behind to draw 2-2 at the Etihad Stadium.