Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz, and Leandro Trossard scored goals to lead Arsenal to a commanding 3-0 victory over Brighton on Saturday, which kept them atop the Premier League standings.
Arsenal had dropped to third position after Manchester City’s triumph earlier in the day, but they rallied forcefully to overcome what seemed to be a difficult hurdle with elegance.
Arsenal now has 71 points from 31 league games after winning 10 of their last 11 matches. Champions Manchester City and Liverpool, who play away at Manchester United on Sunday, are both on 70. Additionally, Arsenal’s goal differential is noticeably superior to that of their two opponents.
Brighton got off to a fast start, but Arsenal steadied quickly, and in the 33rd minute Saka scored a penalty when Tariq Lamptey was ruled to have clipped Gabriel Jesus in the area.
The away supporters were ecstatic as Kai Havertz scored from close range after Jorginho’s cut back in the 62nd minute, as Arsenal remained a continuous threat moving forward.
Trossard, a former Brighton player, sealed the victory with a dinked finish in the dying moments.
Brighton hadn’t lost a league match at home since August.
“The attitude and work-rate of the boys is phenomenal and everyone put everything into that game — that is why we are successful right now,” Havertz said.
“To be honest, we didn’t talk about the victory for City. It is more crucial for us to concentrate on ourselves and win the game than it is to now watch the other games.”We have to prevail in our games and see where it takes us. We must continue as we have another important game in the middle of the week.”
Last season, Brighton placed the last nail in the coffin of Arsenal’s championship dreams when the North London team collapsed late in the game. However, Mikel Arteta’s team is in unwavering form.
They have not surrendered in their previous five away games, scoring 20 goals in the process, and last weekend proved their spirit with a battling 0-0 draw against Man City.
Although Arsenal still has several difficult games ahead of them, its supporters were cheering in the rain on the south coast at the conclusion of the match, and it now seems like they may win their first championship since 2004.
Arteta’s team resisted early Brighton pressure but radiated confidence as they eventually demolished Roberto de Zerbi’s side.
Bart Verbruggen produced a fantastic stop to deny Jesus, and Gabriel wasted a terrific opportunity by heading wide.
But when Lamptey fouled Jesus and a VAR review confirmed the penalty verdict, Saka, who had been an injury doubt, was as calm as a cucumber as he blasted his penalty past Verbruggen for his 14th league goal of the season.
Havertz, playing a more crucial role for Arsenal, gave Arsenal breathing room with a tap-in and Trossard put the frosting on the cake in the 86th minute.
In stoppage time, Gabriel’s goal-saving block and his teammates’ celebration as if he had scored despite the fact that Arsenal had already secured the three points perfectly captured the atmosphere of the squad.
Saka said that after Arsenal’s abortive effort to stop City last season, they had learnt a lot.
“I believe the squad is better this year and we are more at ease. We seem prepared to win every game, in my opinion,” he said.
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Arsenal easily defeats Brighton to reclaim the top spot in the Premier League.
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