A seven-point gap has now been opened up at the Premier League summit, with Arsenal's midweek win at the Amex ensuring this intriguing title race remains firmly in their hands.
After three successive second-place finishes, the bridesmaid looks set to become the bride, with the Gunners having undoubtedly been the division's most dominant and consistent force in 2025/26.
Despite looking like a statement, game-changing signing at the time, however, summer arrival Viktor Gyokeres hasn't exactly been a central figure in that title push, even while leading the way with ten league goals thus far.
gyokeres-arsenal (2)-1
On Wednesday night against Brighton and Hove Albion, in particular, the £63.5m Swede looked distinctly off the pace, leaving Mikel Arteta with real food for thought heading into a pivotal stage of the season.
Comparing Gyokeres & Havertz vs Brighton
There's no denying that Gyokeres has looked far more threatening in recent weeks and months, notably terrorising Tottenham Hotspur's Radu Dragusin in the North London derby not too long ago.
Up against his former club, however, the ex-Sporting CP star endured a real regression, failing to stick the knife into the side that let him go without making a single league appearance on the south coast.
Hooked on the hour mark, the 27-year-old was almost comically poor against the Seagulls, losing possession 13 times from just 20 touches, boasting a dismal 47% pass accuracy rate.
He also failed to win any of his eight attempted duels, while also proving unable to register a single shot prior to his second-half withdrawal, with that substitution having been no surprise, such was the manner of his performance.
Indeed, the introduction of fellow forward, Kai Havertz, was a welcome sight, with the German such a beautifully gifted footballer, despite not necessarily being an orthodox striker by trade.
Havertz-Arsenal-Diego-Gomez-Brighton
There's not the pace and power of Gyokeres, yet Havertz knits it all together far more impressively, registering two shots from his 20 touches, albeit while still losing the ball nine times.
Even in a defensive sense, he was superior too, however, winning five duels in that late cameo, alongside winning two fouls, serving a reminder as to what Arteta has been missing for much of the campaign so far.
Gyokeres & Havertz vs Brighton
Stat
Minutes
Touches
Shots
Key passes
Pass accuracy
Ball lost
Ground duels won
Aerial duels won
Fouls
Fouls won
With League One side Mansfield now next on the agenda in the FA Cup, the Gunners boss could actually go down a different route to refresh his forward line.
Arteta could unleash Arsenal's answer to Ekitike
With Gyokeres seemingly in need of a rest, and Havertz unlikely to be risked against lower league opposition, the obvious replacement would be Gabriel Jesus against Nigel Clough's side.
That said, there is still a sense that the Brazilian's best work comes from the flanks, as it did at Manchester City previously, while the 29-year-old's brief renaissance has been halted in recent weeks.
Instead then, Arteta could rotate his side and use this opportunity to throw academy striker, Andre Harriman-Annous into the mix, with the 18-year-old netting two in his last three games at U21 Premier League level.
He has only made two senior appearances this season, those coming against Slavia Prague and Brighton, yet he notably impressed in that EFL Cup outing against Fabian Hurzeler's men.
Unleashed from the start, the teenager did only touch the ball 16 times, although lost possession just twice, registering one key pass and missing one 'big chance' in that 77-minute outing.
Despite having not featured since his late Champions League cameo back in November, Harriman-Annous could be worth another look as far as Arteta is concerned, with Saturday potentially the perfect chance to get further senior minutes under his belt.
He may still be only 18, although the England youth star has already earned rave reviews, with one notable analyst suggesting that he has "shades of [Alexander] Isak and [Hugo] Ekitike".
Arsenal-FA-Cup-final-lineup-2020
That Liverpool pairing were both on Arsenal's agenda heading into the summer, prior to getting Gyokeres in the door, with Ekitike enjoying a particularly fruitful first season at Anfield, with 11 league goals thus far.
Like Ekitike, Arsenal's Hale End starlet has that ability to operate centrally or off the left flank, blessed with blistering pace, albeit partnered with impressive physicality considering his youth.
Max-Dowman-Harriman-Annous
Of course, throwing him into the fray this weekend could backfire as far as Arteta is concerned, yet with a long-term centre-forward solution still needing to be found, these could prove valuable minutes for Harriman-Annous.
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