Arsenal reclaimed pole position in the Premier League after a hard-fought 2-1 win against Brighton & Hove Albion at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday, despite a late scare from the visitors.
Key Moments Define Tense Encounter
Captain Martin Ødegaard broke the deadlock in the 14th minute with a precise low drive from outside the box, marking his first goal of the season. The Gunners doubled their lead early in the second half when Georginio Rutter inadvertently turned Declan Rice's corner into his own net – Arsenal's fourth consecutive game benefiting from an opposition own goal.
Brighton halved the deficit in the 64th minute through Diego Gómez, who capitalized on a rebound, setting up a nervy finale. The Seagulls nearly equalized when substitute Yankuba Minteh forced a spectacular full-stretch save from David Raya in the 76th minute, a stop hailed by pundits as potentially title-defining.
Arteta Praises Resilience Amid Challenges
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta applauded his squad's adaptability after injuries forced last-minute changes, including Rice slotting in at right-back. "The margin should have been wider given our dominance, but I'm proud of how we handled adversity," Arteta remarked post-match.
Despite registering 24 shots, Arsenal's profligacy nearly proved costly. Striker Viktor Gyökeres missed a golden opportunity early on, while substitute Gabriel Martinelli skewed a late chance over the bar.
Table Implications
The victory restores Arsenal's two-point lead over Manchester City, while Brighton – now winless in five league games – slip to 12th place. Sky Sports analyst Paul Merson emphasized Raya's pivotal save, stating: "If Arsenal lift the trophy, we'll look back at that moment as decisive."
"It was off the charts. Nine times out of 10, that's a goal. That's massive for me." – Paul Merson on Raya's save
Arsenal face a quick turnaround with fixtures piling up, while Brighton seek to reverse their slump in upcoming matches.
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