Arsenal moved to the top of the Premier League table with a 3-0 win against Roberto De Zerbi’s Brighton and Hove Albion at the Amex stadium, securing a league double over the south coast team for the first time since the 2020/2021 season.
The Gunners started the game on the front foot as Brazilian defender Gabriel Magalhães nodded Martin Odegaard’s free-kick just wide off the post.
Brighton got a chance of their own on the counter as Julio Enciso squandered a decent chance on the counter.
Arsenal controlled the game and dominated the possession stats. Bukayo Saka’s return to the team was an additional bonus as he curled his shot past the Brighton goal.
He then set up Gabriel Jesus whose shot towards goal was brilliantly saved by the Brighton shot-stopper.
The same combination would see Arsenal get the first goal as Gabriel Jesus was fouled in the box by Tariq Lamptey.
Saka netted Arsenal’s opener
Bukayo Saka stepped up and coolly slotted the penalty into the bottom corner for his 14th league goal of the season.
The Visitors were almost pegged back if not for some brilliant acrobatic saves from on-loan goalkeeper David Raya, to deny Julio Enciso from a distance as the first half came to an end.
The Paraguayan was Brighton’s brightest spark as he forced David Raya into another brilliant save in the first minute of the second half.
However, Arsenal grabbed a foothold of the game as Gabriel Jesus nodded wide after a delightful cross from in-form forward Kai Harvertz.
Brighton enjoyed a little bit of possession in the second half after the Gunners took their foot off the gas, but they could not find the cutting edge as they failed to link up play with Danny Welbeck, as he was well marshaled by the Arsenal defenders Gabriel Magalhães and William Saliba.
Ex-Chelsea connection grants Arsenal second against Brighton at the Amex Stadium
Kai Havertz got his goal as he tapped on Jorginho, former Chelsea teammates’ pass into the Brighton net to give his side a 2-0 lead.
Roberto De Zerbi tried to make a few changes but his Brighton side was just flat on the day. The Gunners midfield was once again excellent as they controlled the game.
Martin Odegaard was the chief orchestra as he looked to play in Kai Havertz or the former city boy Gabriel Jesus.
Ex-Brighton man Leandro Trossard would come off the bench to the boos from the Amex crowd and instantly silenced them when his shot was tipped over the bar by Brighton goalKeeper Bart Verbruggen.
He didn’t miss his next chance as he chipped the ball over Verbruggen to make it 3-0 after being put through by Kai Harvertz, capping off an impressive all round-away performance.
Arsenal also kept a fifth consecutive clean sheet on their Premier League travels, while ending Brighton and Hove Albion 12 match unbeaten home record.
Mikel Arteta’s side finished the day on top of the league while resuming control of the title race. Meanwhile, the Seagulls find themselves five points adrift of the top seven, after a third outing without a win.
