ARSENAL are celebrating thanks to goals from Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz.
The Gunners have been knocking on the door for much of the game and finally found a breakthrough thanks to Gabriel Jesus’ header in the second half.
- Kick-off time: 2pm GMT
- Stream/TV: Not televised in UK
- Arsenal XI: Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Rice, Odegaard, Havertz; Saka, Jesus, Martinelli
- Brighton XI: Verbruggen, Dunk, Milner, Gilmour, Gross, Lallana, Mitoma, Adingra, Ferguson, Van Hecke, Veltman
Follow all the action with our live blog below…
Arsenal vs Brighton stats
Arsenal and Brighton shared possession in their Premier League clash at the Emirates.
The Gunners, though, registered a staggering 26 shots but only nine of them were on target.
Brighton, on the other hand, only managed six shots and only one of them was on target – and all of them took place in the second half.
More below:
FT: Arsenal 2-0 Brighton
Arsenal have returned to the top of the Premier League table after a dominant victory over Brighton at the Emirates.
The Gunners opened the scoring on 53 minutes with Gabriel Jesus who picked up a corner-kick from Bukayo Saka, with the help of a back-header by Jan Paul van Hecke, in the far post and headed the ball to the back of Bart Verbruggen’s net.
The North Londoners, who almost conceded a shock equaliser by Pascal Gross, sealed the win with Kai Havertz three minutes before full-time.
Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard found Eddie Nketiah with a smart pass while under pressure and the striker then delivered his own stunning assist that released Havertz in front of Verbruggen whom he beat with a clinical shot.
Now Mikel Arteta’s men are waiting for the derby between Manchester United and Liverpool at Anfield.
Credit: AP FT: Arsenal 2-0 Brighton
Peep!
That’s full-time in London!!!
90+5 Arsenal 2-0 Brighton
Chance
Brighton captain Dunk tries a long-range shot that goes all the way to the nosebleed seats.
90+4 Arsenal 2-0 Brighton
Substitution
Arsenal boss Arteta makes his final change with Kiwior replacing Zinchenko.
90+3 Arsenal 2-0 Brighton
Chance!
Arsenal come close to a third with Trossard heading the ball down from the left for the incoming Smith Rowe who tries a powerful shot from the penalty area but Verbruggen makes another stunning save.
90 Arsenal 2-0 Brighton
Six more minutes of added time to go until full-time.
Brighton star Gross picks up a yellow card.
89 Arsenal 2-0 Brighton
Substitution
Arsenal boss Arteta makes a double change with Saka and goalscorer Havertz coming off for Smith Rowe and Nelson.
87 Arsenal 2-0 Brighton
Havertz scores his first Premier League goal in the Emirates as an Arsenal player!
It all starts with Odegaard who finds Nketiah with a smart pass in midfield while under pressure.
The striker then delivers a clever pass of his own down to his right where Havertz is.
The Germany international finds himself in front of Verbruggen, whom he beats with a clinical shot!
87 Arsenal 2-0 Brighton
Goal!
Havertz surely seals it for Arsenal!!!
85 Arsenal 1-0 Brighton
Brighton have really upped their game in the last few minutes as we approach full-time.
Took them a long time – 82 minutes to be exact – but Gross’ missed chance has really given them a boost!
84 Arsenal 1-0 Brighton
Chance
Arsenal star Rice puts together a stunning run from midfield and makes it to Brighton’s area where he tries a shot but is denied by Verbruggen.
82 Arsenal 1-0 Brighton
What a chance!
Brighton come agonisingly close to a late equaliser!
Mitoma delivers a low cross from the left and finds Gross who gets a foot in and just misses Raya’s bottom right corner as the ball touches the side netting!
The Emirates absolutely froze for a second there!
81 Arsenal 1-0 Brighton
Substitution
Arsenal boss Arteta makes his first changes of the match with Nketiah and former Brighton star Trossard coming on for Jesus and Martinelli respectively.
80 Arsenal 1-0 Brighton
Arsenal continue the high press with the likes of Gabriel moving forward to the attacking third.
The Gunners want to seal the three points in the final 10 minutes with Brighton still toothless…
78 Arsenal 1-0 Brighton
Substitution
Brighton boss De Zerbi makes his final change with Welbeck coming on for Adingra.
The ex-Arsenal ace will play next to Pedro as the Seagulls are going for it.
76 Arsenal 1-0 Brighton
Yellow card
Brighton ace Gilmour gets booked for going hard on Jesus with both legs in midfield.
75 Arsenal 1-0 Brighton
Chance
Another opportunity by Arsenal with Havertz registering a header from close range but the ball goes over the crossbar.
74 Arsenal 1-0 Brighton
What a chance!
Arsenal break out in a stunning counter-attack with Martinelli dribbling past both Van Hecke as well as Dunk, whom he nutmegged.
Odegaard gets the ball, breaks inside the area and tries a powerful shot that Verbruggen denies as he lunges with his right hand.
72 Arsenal 1-0 Brighton
Brighton break out on a beautiful and rare counter-attack thanks to a stunning ball by Dunk who finds Mitoma down the left.
The winger breaks inside the area but goes down while under pressure by White.
However, it doesn’t look like a penalty as the Japan international went down a little too easy…
70 Arsenal 1-0 Brighton
Arsenal continue to push for a second to seal an important Premier League win that could see them topping the table by the end of the day.
Brighton have been very toothless with only one effort to show, which doesn’t count as they were offside in the build-up.
69 Arsenal 1-0 Brighton
What a chance!
Absolutely superb by Brighton captain Dunk, who gets back up after a nasty hit and saves his team from a second goal.
Martinelli whips in a corner-kick from the left and White gets a back header on the near post.
The ball heads towards Verbuggen’s net on the far post but Dunk gets there and heads it away from the goal line!
68 Arsenal 1-0 Brighton
Arsenal captain Odegaard delivers a powerful shot from the edge of the box but it’s blocked by Dunk.
But the Brighton captain needs some time as the ball hit him in the weakest spot…
66 Arsenal 1-0 Brighton
Arsenal ace Saliba catches Buonanotte’s ankle with his studs immediately after losing the ball.
The Brighton ace is in pain but thankfully gets back up, nothing from the referee or VAR.
65 Arsenal 1-0 Brighton
Chance
And Arsenal register another chance with Saka hitting Verbruggen’s side netting
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
