Arsenal Hold On For Narrow 2-1 Win Over Brighton
Arsenal reclaimed top spot in the Premier League after edging past Brighton 2-1 at the Emirates Stadium, but Mikel Arteta’s side had to survive late scares as Brighton came close to snatching a point.
Arsenal moved back to the summit of the Premier League with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion at the Emirates Stadium. Martin Odegaard opened the scoring in the 14th minute with a composed finish from the edge of the area, after Bukayo Saka created space and provided the assist.
The Gunners doubled their advantage early in the second half when a Declan Rice corner caused confusion in the Brighton box, leading to an own goal by Georginio Rutter in the 52nd minute. At that point, Arsenal looked to be cruising, but Brighton introduced substitutes that revitalized their attack. Diego Gomez pulled one back in the 64th minute, firing home a rebound after the ball came off the woodwork, and suddenly the momentum shifted.
Brighton continued to press, forcing David Raya into a series of crucial saves, including a standout stop from Yankuba Minteh. Arsenal also had chances to seal the game, with Saka’s exquisite cross finding Gabriel Martinelli late on, only for the forward to misfire from close range. Despite the late pressure, the Gunners held on to secure three vital points.
The win keeps Arsenal on top of the table as 2025 draws to a close, with an expected goals advantage of 2.80 to Brighton’s 0.80 reflecting their overall control. Brighton, meanwhile, drop to 12th and will look to regroup when they face West Ham United in a few days.
