ARSENAL GO SEVEN POINTS CLEAR AFTER BIG WIN AGAINST BRIGHTON

Gunner’s beat the Seagull’s 4-2 away from home to extend their lead at the top of the table. Man City are now seven points behind top spot as an early goal from Bukayo Saka inspired an assured victory against the Albion.

Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal lead the Premier League by seven points after an emphatic 4-2 win vs Brighton. Early goals at the beginning of both halves stunned the Albion and despite a late fight back, Arsenal went back to North London with all 3 points.

Bukayo Saka opened the scoring inside 2 minutes, with Martin Odegaard doubling the lead at the other end of the first half.

Similarly to the first half, Arsenal scored 2 minutes after the 2nd half began, Eddie Nketiah the goal scorer to make it 3-0. Brighton got a consolation goal just after the hour mark via Kauro Mitoma.

Thankfully after an underwhelming World Cup campaign, Gabriel Martinelli return with a bang by putting the game to bed with a composed finish to make the score 4-1. The final score was 4-2 as Evan Ferguson got his first Premier League goal.

Saka stuns the Seagulls instantly

A brilliant start for Arsenal! Bukayo Saka puts Arsenal into the lead. The move started with Odegaard dancing past the opposition. Lamptey tried to intervene, but wasn’t able to prevent Arsenal from moving forward.

Martinelli received the ball out on the wing from Thomas Partey. The Brazilian’s curled effort took two deflections in the box, which helped it into the path of Saka who fired the ball past Robert Sanchez.

Odegaard doubles the lead

After a break due to the World Cup, Odegaard continued his fine form for the Gunners in his first game back against West Ham, claiming two assists in 15 minutes. It was no different in this fixture, the Norwegian leading by example once again doubling the advantage for his side.

Arsenal won a corner which Gilmour managed to clear away from initial danger, however his clearance only made it to the edge of the box. An alert Odegaard met the ball and struck it through the crowd on the half volley. Sanchez starred as the ball went past him for the second time in the match, with his feet planted to the floor. Brighton had a steep mountain to climb.

Eddie Nketiah gets in on the action

Lots of questions had been asked of Nketiah after the injury of Gabriel Jesus; many wondered if Arsenal would remain top of the table without their main striker. However Nketiah responded perfectly with his second goal in as many games, he put Arsenal 3-0 up moments into the second half.

Leandro Trossard’s cross was cut out and Arsenal quickly capitalised, breaking out on the counter. Martinelli collected the ball on the left-hand side and drove forward with purpose, his low cross was slightly too close to Sanchez, who pushed the ball away. The Spaniard wasn’t able to fully get the ball out of danger, as Nketiah darted in to tap the ball home from close range.

Mitoma pulls one back

Kaoru Mitoma scored a consolation goal for the Alibion just after t he hour mark. Pascal Gross claimed the assist with an exquisite no look through ball to pick out Mitoma, he timed his pass perfectly to beat the offside trap.

Mitoma took a touch to get the ball out of his feet before curling a strike past Ramsdale and into the bottom corner. A swift VAR check displays that he was in fact onside, making the score 3-1. It didn’t’t mean much considering the big picture, but a goal nonetheless.

Martinelli secures the victory

Roberto De Zerbi opted to encourage his players to go very attacking, in search for a second goal to spark an incredible comeback. Lots of bodies forward in blue and white shirts, and Arsenal made them pay!

It was no surprise that Odegaard’s presence saved Arsenal once again, he was the one to sweep the ball away to start the Gunner’s rapid counter attack. Martinelli beat Traiq Lamptey in a foot race and burst into the box before, jabbing a shot at Sanchez. The Brighton goalkeeper should really have done better but the ball found it’s way through his legs and into the back of the net. 4-1 and surely game over.

Ferguson gets his first Premier League goal

The action down on the South Coast didn’t end with Martinelli’s goal, Brighton pulled yet another goal back in the final 15 minutes of the fixture. Totally contrasting the Mitoma goal, the ball was played long over the top to find the striker then into the back of the net.

Lewis Dunk glanced up and lofted the ball over the opposition, William Saliba seems to have control of the situation however he loses the ball after an awkward touch that bounces off his knee. Young prospect Evan Ferguson used his strength to shrug off the Frenchman before lofting the ball over Aaron Ramsdale and into the back of the net, making him Brighton's youngest ever Premier League goal scorer.

Mitoma gets another one

The Japanese superstar got his brace in the dying moments of the game, he cut inside from the left, allowing him to make a yard and curl a shot into the far bottom corner. Ferguson had the ball but miscontrolled it, fortunately fell to Mitoma who directed the ball towards goal.

The Brighton boy thought he’d got his side back into the game in the dying moments, however, after a VAR check he was deemed offside. It was the very finest of margins but he was ultimately offside; no goal!

Excitement begins to build for Arsenal supporters

With a strong statement victory on the South Coast, Arsenal head into 2023 top of the table, ahead of Manchester City by seven points. It’s still early days and anything can happen, but the excitement for Arsenal fans is continuing to build in what could be their first league win since the  2003/04 season.

It’s the best Arsenal side in recent years, with Saka, Martinelli and of course Odegaard scoring goals and creating chances, but also with a young and exciting defence who are responsible for the wins as well. They currently only have 1 loss in the Premier League and look to be on track for one of their best seasons in years.

For Brighton it’s a disappointing defeat at home but they are still in the top half of the table, with lots to look forward to for the rest of the season. The return of World Cup winner Alexis Mac Allister will be a huge boost for Albion. They face Everton next away from home.

Brighton

Line ups: Sanchez, Estupinan, Colwill, Dunk, Lamptey, Gross, Gilmour, March (Enciso 76’), Mitoma, Lallana (Sarmiento 61’), Trossard (Ferguson 60’)

Goals: Kauro Mitoma (65’), Evan Ferguson (77’)

Bookings: Billy Gilmour (45’), Solly March (57’), Jeremy Sarmiento

Arsenal

Line ups: Ramsdale, Zinchenko (Tierney 60'), Gabriel, Salina, White (Tomiyasu 60'), Xhaka, Partey (Elneny 74'), Odegaard (Holding 87'), Martinelli, Nketiah, Saka

Goals: Bukayo Saka (2’), Martin Odegaard (39’), Edward Nketiah (47’), Gabriel Martinelli

Bookings: Gabriel (46’), Thomas Partey (47’), Bukayo Saka

Written by Isabelle Newnham