Arsenal gave their fans a late Christmas present as they reclaimed the top spot in the Premier League with a 2-1 victory over a tricky Brighton side. On a crisp North London afternoon, Mikel Arteta's men showed resilience to hold off a late Seagulls fightback and move two points clear of Manchester City.
Mikel Arteta: "We knew Brighton would test us. They are brave on the ball and make you work for everything. I'm really pleased with how we started the game and how we managed the difficult moments. To be top of the league heading into the New Year is where we want to be."
The Gunners started with high intensity and were rewarded in the 14th minute. Bukayo Saka stood up his man on the right and fed Martin Ødegaard on the edge of the box. The captain, yet to score this campaign, drilled a low left-footed shot into the bottom corner to break his duck and settle the Emirates nerves.
Arsenal doubled their advantage early in the second half, though there was a slice of luck involved. In the 52nd minute, Declan Rice—filling in admirably at right-back due to injuries—whipped in a dangerous inswinging corner. Under pressure, Brighton's Georginio Rutter inadvertently headed the ball into his own net, giving Arsenal a comfortable 2-0 cushion.
However, Brighton refused to fold. They pulled one back in the 64th minute when Diego Gómez reacted quickest after Yasin Ayari's shot rebounded off the post. The goal set up a tense finale. David Raya was forced into a smart save to deny Yankuba Minteh, and the defense had to withstand some late pressure, but Arsenal held firm.
Declan Rice's performance as an emergency right-back was a talking point. The midfielder looked comfortable in the role, providing defensive solidity and attacking threat from set-pieces.
Martin Ødegaard: "It's been a long wait for that first goal! I'm relieved it's finally come and that it helped us get the win. It was a tough game, Brighton are a good team, but we showed character to see it out."
The Man of the Match award goes to Declan Rice. Asked to play out of position in a crucial game, he was flawless. He defended resolutely, supported the attack, and his delivery led to the winning goal. A true leader's performance.
Arsenal end the year on a high, sitting at the summit of the Premier League. Next up: a New Year's Day trip to Brentford as the title charge continues into 2026.
Image Credits https://www.arsenal.com/news/gallery-44-photos-our-success-over-brighton