Arsenal returned to the summit of the Premier League with a gritty 2-1 home win over Brighton at the Emirates Stadium.
Martin Ødegaard opened the scoring with his first competitive goal of the season, before an own goal doubled the Gunners advantage. Brighton rallied after the break, but the hosts held firm.
Arsenal started brightly and were rewarded early.
Ødegaard seized on a loose ball and drove a calm finish past the Brighton goalkeeper to make it 1–0 in the 14th minute. The Norwegian’s strike was his first of the season, and a timely one after he returned from a knee injury.
After the break, Arsenal applied pressure and Brighton struggled to cope. From a whipped corner, Brighton forward Georginio Rutter, formerly of Leeds, inadvertently turned the ball into his own net, doubling Arsenal’s advantage in the 52nd minute. It was a cruel moment for the visitors and their first concession of the afternoon.
Just when the contest seemed settled, Brighton hit back through Diego Gómez in the 64th minute. His finish came from close range after a rebound off the post, giving the Seagulls hope and setting up a nervy finish for the home crowd.
As the match entered its final stages, Brighton pushed for an equaliser. Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya produced a key save from Yankuba Minteh to keep the lead intact, ensuring all three points stayed in north London.
The win moved Arsenal back to the top of the Premier League table with 42 points from 18 games. Also leapfrogging Manchester City who briefly held first place earlier in the day. The result keeps Arsenal firmly in the title hunt as the campaign reaches its congested festive rhythm.
Despite ongoing injury challenges, Arsenal showed resilience and depth to secure a result. One that will matter in the bigger picture of their season. Brighton will take heart from their fightback but will rue missed chances to snatch a point.
