Arsenal returned to the top of the Premier League table as goals from Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz secured a dominant 2-0 win over Brighton at the Emirates Stadium.
Jesus headed the opener from a corner soon after half-time and Havertz added a breakaway second from substitute Eddie Nketiah’s pass in the closing stages.
Arsenal spurned a succession of other chances either side of the goals, registering 26 shots to Brighton’s six, but Havertz’s strike, shortly after Pascal Gross had missed a guilt-edged chance at the other end, finally made the result safe.
The win ensures Arsenal bounce back from last weekend’s 1-0 loss to Aston Villa while also capitalising on Manchester City’s failure to beat Crystal Palace on Saturday. Brighton, meanwhile, slip a place to ninth following their Europa League exertions on Thursday.
Brighton were chasing a fourth consecutive win at the Emirates Stadium but the first half was a story of total Arsenal dominance, with Bukayo Saka giving left-back James Milner a particularly torrid time.
The Arsenal winger got the better for the veteran on a string of occasions in the opening 15 minutes alone, producing two dangerous crosses then seeing a low shot saved by Bart Verbruggen.
Before long, Arsenal were threatening from all angles, with Martin Odegaard firing narrowly wide, Jesus spurning a series of half-chances and defender Gabriel Magalhaes heading too close to Verbruggen from a Gabriel Martinelli cross.
SkySports
