Arsenal beat Brighton & Hove Albion 4-2 on Saturday as objectives from Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, Eddie Nketiah and Gabriel Martinelli despatched the Gunners seven factors clear on the high of the Premier League.
Saka scored the opening purpose after simply 66 seconds earlier than Odegaard doubled the guests’ lead within the thirty ninth minute on a rainswept evening on the Amex Stadium.
Nketiah poked dwelling a 3rd simply after the restart earlier than Kaoru Mitoma briefly raised Brighton’s hopes 18 minutes later, just for Martinelli to strike within the 71st minute.
Substitute Evan Ferguson, 18, scored his first league purpose with 13 minutes remaining and Mitoma thought he had introduced Brighton to inside a one-goal deficit however his 89th-minute effort was dominated out on VAR evaluation for offside and Mikel Arteta’s facet held on for a deserved victory.
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Speedy response
1. Arsenal seize on Metropolis, Newcastle misses to increase Premier League lead
The Gunners already knew they might finish 2022 on the high of the Premier League however outcomes earlier on Saturday made this an sudden golden alternative to increase their benefit.
Manchester Metropolis‘s shock 1-1 draw at dwelling to Everton
But slightly than be inhibited by the raised stakes, they excelled and grasped the possibility introduced to them with each arms. From the second Saka gave Arsenal a second-minute lead, the Gunners performed with a mix of authority and composure for lengthy durations earlier than surviving a late Brighton rally in a way which bodes nicely for the challenges forward.
They have been joyful to concede possession (they’d simply 32% of the ball) and keep compact to select their opponents off on the break, demonstrating a versatility which can please supervisor Mikel Arteta.
No facet has ever been seven factors (or extra) clear on New Yr’s Day and never gained the Premier League. This explicit season is skewed in that context given the midseason World Cup means fewer video games have been performed thus far. Nonetheless, the Gunners are in a particularly thrilling place.
2. Like Haaland, Odegaard benefiting from Norway’s World Cup miss
A lot was made from Norway’s failure to qualify for the World Cup in Qatar, that means that Erling Haaland may take pleasure in 5 weeks resting up earlier than persevering with his devastating type with Manchester Metropolis. Nonetheless, the identical is true of Martin Odegaard. After a man-of-the-match show towards West Ham United on Boxing Day, Odegaard was as soon as once more closely influential right here.
He produced a jaw-dropping second of talent which nearly led to gorgeous purpose for Gabriel Martinelli earlier than scoring Arsenal’s second purpose himself, albeit with a scruffy left-footed end. There was nothing scruffy about his chic help for Martinelli within the second half, steering an excellent first-time via ball for the Brazilian to internet Arsenal’s fourth.
Odegaard now has seven objectives and 5 assists from 15 league matches this season, greater than his tally for everything of the earlier marketing campaign. Made captain aged simply 24 in the summertime, Odegaard will not be essentially the most vocal presence on the pitch however Arteta desires him to guide by instance and that’s exactly what the midfielder is doing at current.
2:08
Don Hutchison and Julien Laurens clarify what Mykhailo Mudryk may carry to Arsenal.
3. Are you watching, Mykhailo? Switch targets will like what they see
For the second time in lower than per week, Mykhailo Mudryk made it clear he was watching. Arsenal’s high January switch goal used his Instagram account to seize a tv display displaying this sport. The picture confirmed Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi (Mudryk’s former coach at Shakhtar Donetsk) alongside Arteta with the caption ‘Two high coach[es]” and so the message was clear.
Mudryk is eager on a transfer to North London however the two golf equipment are but to agree a price with Shakhtar insisting they need a price within the area of €100 million for the 21-year-old. Outcomes like this may solely reinforce the view that Arsenal are going locations underneath Arteta, making them extra engaging when the switch window formally opens tomorrow.
The Gunners are considered contemplating a transfer for a striker, presumably on mortgage, following a knee harm to Gabriel Jesus which can rule him out for 3 months. High of the league and taking part in such good soccer, why would not a high participant need to be a part of one thing with this a lot potential?
Participant scores
Brighton: Robert Sanchez 6, Tariq Lamptey 7, Lewis Dunk 6, Levi Colwill 6, Pervis Estupinan 6, Billy Gilmour 6, Pascal Gross 7, Solly March 7, Adam Lallana 5, Kaoru Mitoma 7, Leandro Trossard 6.
Subs: Jeremy Sarmiento 6, Evan Ferguson 7. Julio Enciso 6.
Arsenal: Aaron Ramsdale 6, Ben White 7, Gabriel Magalhaes 7, William Saliba 6, Oleksandr Zinchenko 7, Martin Odegaard 9, Thomas Partey 8, Granit Xhaka 7, Bukayo Saka 8, Eddie Nketiah 7, Gabriel Martinelli 8.
Subs: Takehiro Tomiyasu 6, Kieran Tierney 6, Mohamed Elneny 6, Rob Holding 6.
Greatest and worst performers
Greatest performer: Martin Odegaard, Arsenal.
Ran shut by a number of teammates together with Saka and Martinelli, however Odegaard’s very good help for his or her fourth purpose settled the competition.
Worst performer: Adam Lallana, Brighton.
Accomplished simply eight of his 14 passes and did not make an influence earlier than being substituted on 61 minutes.
Highlights and notable moments
The best strategy to management a sport is to attain early, which Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka did inside two minutes.
Nicely, that was quick. 😳
Bukayo Saka fires Arsenal into the lead in simply the second minute!
📺 @nbc and @peacock #MyPLMorning | #BHAARS pic.twitter.com/jWB9UgByG9
— NBC Sports activities Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) December 31, 2022
Saka and the remainder of Arsenal’s entrance line has actually stepped up with the absence of striker Gabriel Jesus as a result of harm.
After the match: What the gamers/managers mentioned
Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka on being high of the desk, to Sky Sports activities: “Wonderful. In fact at the beginning of the season for those who requested us if we wished this we’d chew your hand off. We’re actually joyful.”
Saka on his early purpose, to Sky Sports activities: “There was large emphasis. We all know how laborious it’s to return right here and the climate as nicely — it wasn’t simple. That purpose good and early set us up. I could not imagine it fell for me. I simply needed to attempt to present some composure.”
Arsenal’s Martin Odegaard on the Premier League race, to Sky Sports activities: “We do not care concerning the different groups. Three factors was all the pieces as we speak and we did it. Perhaps we have to management the sport a bit higher, we allow them to in a few occasions, however they’re an excellent workforce, good on the ball.”
Key stats (offered by ESPN Stats & Info analysis)
– Bukayo Saka’s early rating was the second Arsenal purpose within the first two minutes of a league match this season (Gabriel Martinelli scored within the first minute towards Liverpool on Oct. 9). The final time Arsenal had two such objectives in a Premier League season was 2013-14.
– Martin Odegaard has seven Premier League objectives this season in simply 16 video games, tying the profession excessive he set in all the 2021-22 marketing campaign.
– On the age of 18 years and 74 days, Brighton’s Evan Ferguson turns into the youngest participant from the Republic of Eire to attain a Premier League purpose.
Up subsequent
Brighton: A go to to Everton subsequent Tuesday on Jan. 3 earlier than a visit to Championship facet Middlesbrough in FA Cup motion on Jan. 7.
Arsenal: Again on the Emirates on Jan. 3, the place Newcastle will await for a conflict between top-three sides. Then to third-tier Oxford United on Jan. 9 for a FA Cup conflict.
