Arsenal vs Brighton LIVE! Premier League result, match stream and latest updates today – Evening Standard
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Arsenal vs Brighton – LIVE!
Arsenal put in a dominant display to return to winning ways as they saw off Brighton at the Emirates Stadium. The Gunners were well-beaten by Roberto De Zerbi’s men in the corresponding fixture last season, all-but ending their Premier League title charge in the process.
This 2-0 victory in an entertaining contest – coming after defeat at Aston Villa eight days ago – would have helped banish some of the ghosts of that defeat while keeping Mikel Arteta‘s side very much in the mix at the top of the table. Gabriel Jesus’ all-round game was exceptional throughout but it was his back-post header from close-range that broke the deadlock, before a cool Kai Havertz finish wrapped up the three points for Arsenal – who also become the first team to prevent Brighton scoring in a league game this season.
Brighton’s best chance of the afternoon fell to Pascal Gross with eight minutes to go and but he could only turn Kaoru Mitoma’s low centre wide when presented with a huge opportunity to equalise and soon after and the points were secured by Havertz, the Germany international finishing with aplomb after being slipped in by substitute Eddie Nketiah as Arsenal eased through the remaining minutes to secure victory.
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This had all the makings of an afternoon of frustration for Arsenal and a throwback to the days of Arsene Wenger.
They dominated Brighton during the first half here at Emirates Stadium, so much so the visitors did not have a single shot on goal.
But Arsenal had nothing to show for it and you could sense where the narrative was going, with the January transfer window opening in just two weeks.
There have long been calls for Mikel Arteta to sign another striker to make Arsenal more ruthless in attack and this first-half display did little to silence that argument.
The frustration was building after the break and felt close to boiling over when Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard tried to walk the ball into the net.
From the resulting corner, though, any anger at the Emirates swiftly evaporated and fittingly it was thanks to Gabriel Jesus.
Read our full analysis here!
Martin Odegaard 8 | Star player
An excellent performance. Opened up Brighton so many times with his passing. Unlucky to not claim a goal or an assist.
Declan Rice 8
Relished the dominance Arsenal had by making a few charging runs forward. Continuing his march to being Arsenal’s player of the season.
Read our full ratings here!
“Very important, it’s a great team,” Havertz says.
“They play very nice football. It’s tough to play against them. We knew we’re strong at our house here. Today it went quite well.
“I’m happy as an offensive player, it’s always nice to score or assist. The first one or two months were difficult but I tried to get the best out of myself every day.”
Bukayo Saka about to head down the tunnel, but spots a kid with a sign asking for his shirt as it’ll make his Christmas.
Whips it off and hands it to the kid, who is gobsmacked.
A big win for Arsenal, who were excellent for a lot of that game.
Not many sides dominate Brighton like that, but thought Arsenal’s midfield was immense. Havertz, Odegaard and Rice showing why they should start together.
Job done for the Gunners, who move to the top of the Premier League table for now.
Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz with the goals. It was a lot closer than it should have been, but that was a really impressive performance.
90+3 mins: Smith Rowe nearly makes it 3-0, after yet more good work from Rice. Good save to deny him.
Kiwior is Arsenal’s final change of the match, replacing Zinchenko.
90+2 mins: Six minutes added on.
Arsenal can enjoy the closing stages now, assuming something disastrous doesn’t happen very soon…
89 mins: Arteta turns to his bench again.
Saka and Havertz off, Nelson and Smith Rowe on for the final few minutes.
THAT’LL DO IT!
Havertz has sealed it for Arsenal. Clean through on goal and he holds his nerve to extend his strong goalscoring run.
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