**Arsenal:** Raya, Timber, Mosquera, Gabriel, Hincapie, Zubimendi, Rice, Eze, Martinelli, Saka, Gyokeres
**Subs:** Kepa, Calafiori, Jesus, Norgaard, Trossard, Madueke, Havertz, Lewis-Skelly, Dowman
Arsenal extended their lead at the top of the Premier League to seven points after beating Brighton 1-0 at AMEX Stadium, thanks to a first half goal from Bukayo Saka.
This result was compounded by Manchester City drawing 2-2 at home to Nottingham Forest despite going ahead twice.
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Mikel Arteta made two changes from the side that beat Chelsea on Sunday, with Cristhian Mosquera and Gabriel Martinelli coming in for William Saliba and Leandro Trossard.
Ben White and Martin Odegaard missed out through injury again, although Kai Havertz was included amid ongoing doubts over his fitness.
**FIRST HALF**
It was a fast start from Brighton who almost found themselves ahead within two minutes after David Raya gifted the ball straight to Baleba under no pressure, but his lobbed effort was cleared off the line by Gabriel to spare his blushes.
That early moment seemed to wake Arsenal up and they were in behind Brighton straight after when Eberechi Eze played Bukayo Saka through, but he couldn’t find anybody in the centre despite cutting the ball across dangerously.
And just before the ten-minute mark, Arteta’s men took the lead when Saka found himself isolated against Kadioglu before cutting inside and whacking a shot towards goal that went through Verbruggen thanks to a small deflection off Baleba. [0-1](https://streamff.com/v/9cecb79c).
The deflection did change the trajectory of the ball but you would probably want your goalkeeper to save those – thankfully for Arsenal he didn’t.
But Brighton continued to cause Arsenal problems and were doing a good job of pressing which impacted the Gunners’ ability to build play, and both Gabriel and Mosquera were needed at their best to make crucial blocks in front of goal.
Fabian Hurzeler and the home fans were making no secret of their frustration at every dead ball situation, with a strong focus on the Arsenal “timekeeping” which led to Arteta sharing some words with his opposite number about the repeated complaints.
It was a difficult first half for Arsenal who took a valuable lead into the break, but struggled to build play at all from deeper areas and when going long – that didn’t stick either – with Brighton able to control the game more effectively.
**SECOND HALF**
Brighton made a change at the break with Minteh replacing Mitoma, but the Gunners continued to struggle and Arteta made his first changes of the game – bringing Leandro Trossard and Kai Havertz on for Martinelli and Gyokeres with an hour on the clock.
Having picked up a soft yellow card earlier on in the game, Mosquera was at the mercy of the referee and after another dicey challenge where Minteh got the better of him, he was quickly (and sensibly) replaced by Riccardo Calafiori.
There was a half chance for Havertz after Rice pinched the ball off Baleba in a dangerous area but the young midfielder got back to block, just as the German was pulling the trigger. Trossard also had a big sight of goal but shanked wide after being found by Jurrien Timber, although he had much more time than he thought in the penalty box.
But as the clock ticked down, Brighton were starting to lose their heads and Boscagli was booked for dissent before Kadioglu was also booked for pulling Saka down off the ball.
The Gunners had not played well but they were digging in and doing what they needed to do, with Havertz calling Verbruggen into action at his near post after being played through by Trossard.
As the crosses flew in, as the set pieces flew in, Gabriel rose highest, Hincapie rose higher and Brighton couldn’t find a way through a resolute Arsenal defence who gave everything on the night.
Referee Chris Kavanagh eventually blew the final whistle and that was almost cheered more than an Arsenal goal, with the Arsenal players sinking to their knees and fans jubilant about title rivals City dropping points.
Fabian Hurzeler has no mates. Nottingham Forest have just found many more.