Brighton 0-3 Arsenal: Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz, Leandro Trossard goals send Gunners top of Premier League – Sky Sports
Football
Report and free match highlights as Arsenal move top of the Premier League with victory at Brighton; Bukayo Saka scores first-half penalty after Tariq Lamptey brings down Gabriel Jesus; Kai Havertz doubled Arsenal’s leading second half; Leandro Trossard adds late third against former club
Sunday 7 April 2024 07:13, UK
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Arsenal kept a fifth consecutive away clean sheet as goals from Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz and Leandro Trossard earned a 3-0 victory at Brighton to move them top of the Premier League.
Manchester City had moved above the Gunners and level on points with Liverpool with a 4-2 win at Crystal Palace on Saturday lunchtime, but Mikel Arteta’s side responded with a superb performance to hit the summit.
Arsenal’s rock-solid defence had made a shaky start on the south coast before Saka kept his cool from the penalty spot with VAR not overturning the decision after Tariq Lamptey appeared to touch the ball before bringing down Gabriel Jesus.
The hosts were unbeaten in their last 12 home league matches and started to turn the screw in the second half as Arsenal began to lose control until the in-form Havertz tapped in his ninth Premier League goal of the season.
Trossard added further punishment for Brighton, scoring a late third against his former club with a deft chip to make sure Arsenal would move a point clear at the top.
Brighton: Verbruggen (7), Lamptey (5), Van Hecke (5), Dunk (5), Estupinan (5), Gross (6), Baleba (6), Moder (6), Enciso (7), Adingra (6), Welbeck (6).
Subs: Buonanotte (6), Pedro (6), Fati (6).
Arsenal: Raya (7), White (7), Saliba (7), Gabriel (7), Zinchenko (5), Odegaard (7), Rice (7), Jorginho (7), Saka (7), Havertz (8), Jesus (7).
Subs: Trossard (7), Martinelli (6), Tomiyasu (6), Nketiah (n/a), Vieira (n/a).
Player of the Match: Kai Havertz
Arsenal should have led inside two minutes when the unmarked Gabriel headed Martin Odegaard’s free-kick wide but Brighton could have been in front soon after as Julio Enciso fired over and Jakub Moder’s pop shot rolled past the left post.
Saka was the next to miss, bending wide from inside the box having easily drifted in behind Pervis Estupinan and then Bart Verbruggen flung to his left to deny Jesus.
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Arsenal had looked shaky early on with Simon Adingra blasting over when well-placed and Lamptey appealing for a penalty when he collided with David Raya in the box.
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But the Gunners started to tighten up and drew a mistake from the hosts, Lamptey lunging towards Jesus and bringing down the striker, playing as a left winger, in the area. Saka silenced the home fans by tucking the spot kick into the bottom left corner.
There was still work for Raya to do before the break, though, sprawling high to his left to tip Enciso’s curler behind.
Odegaard threatened early in the second half, forcing Verbruggen to tip over his powerful shot, but Arsenal were sloppy in posession and Brighton were building momentum until Havertz struck. Jorginho got in behind Brighton’s left and squared for the striker to tap in.
Trossard came on to boos from the Brighton fans who once adored him. He forced Verbruggen into a good low save and then raced clear before chipping the goalkeeper to seal victory.
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Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta told Sky Sports:
“Wow, really happy. They [Brighton] are a really good team, really well coached. They make life really difficult for you. But today, we were outstanding.
“We showed quality and with the ball we are really connected. We have purpose and clarity. Against a shape that was slightly different than what we expected. Without the ball we are so disciplined. We were really humble.
“They did something similar in Liverpool away, which they never do. We knew it could happen.”
Sky Sports’ Alan Smith:
“Havertz had his best game in an Arsenal shirt. I just think he looks so at home in that role he has been asked to play. He got himself a goal and his defensive work was excellent.
“So many eyebrows were raised when they spent £60m on him. They thought, ‘we don’t need that sort of player, we’ve got a few of those already’.
“Arteta saw the place that he wanted him to fill and he’s worked on it. I’m so pleased for Havertz because at the start of the season he was missing chances and there were boos from the crowd. He kept on going and he is getting his rewards.”
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Brighton boss Roberto de Zerbi told Sky Sports:
“The penalty was clear. It was good enough to decide this game. Until the second goal we were inside this game. Then it finished.
“Without a lot of important players, it was tough to create chances to score. We played a good game but without big chances to score.
“We played against Arsenal, they are top of the table. In this condition, we can lose against Arsenal at home. We are sorry for the fans but at this moment, it is tough to compete with Arsenal or Liverpool.
“Maybe we will not close the gap, I don’t know. This gap to close with Liverpool and Arsenal, we are not in the condition to close this gap, especially with all our injured players.”
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Brighton are back in action on Saturday as they travel to Burnley in the Premier League; kick-off 3pm.
Arsenal host Bayern Munich in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final on Tuesday; kick-off 8pm.
They return to Premier League action on Sky Sports on April 14, taking on Aston Villa in the Premier League on Super Sunday; kick-off 4.30pm.
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