Jesus and Havertz seal Arsenal win vs Brighton but worrying theme continues
Pictures from Arsenal v Brighton
Arsenal defeated Brighton 2-0 on Sunday but their wasteful finishing will raise concerns despite going top of the Premier League table. After an opening 45 minutes where the hosts failed to make their dominance count, Gabriel Jesus nodded home at the back post early in the second half to give Arsenal the lead, though a nervy finish ensued before Kai Havertz cemented the three points with his late effort. Here, Express Sport takes a look at the main talking points from the match, including another fiery outburst from Mikel Arteta.
Wasteful Arsenal
The story of the game was largely centred around Arsenal’s inability to put the ball in the back of the net despite creating a host of chances, not for the first time this season. Brighton are yet to keep a clean sheet in the league this season, but time and time again the Gunners were wasteful when opportunities were handed to them.
Sporting director Edu has reportedly focused on landing a marquee striker in January as the club’s top priority. The display against the Seagulls showed just how vital signing a new forward could be in the title race, as the likes of Jesus, Havertz, Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka missed numerous chances and the game should have been well out of sight.
In the first half alone Arsenal had 16 shots compared to zero for Brighton as the hosts dominated proceedings, but anxiety gradually began to grow at the Emirates, before Jesus provided a much-needed relief with his headed finish from Saka’s corner.
Arsenal should have increased their goal difference exponentially and were nearly made to pay, as Pascal Gross was given a golden opportunity to snatch a late equaliser but much to the Gunners’ relief he was unable to hit the target from close range before Havertz sealed the win.
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Brighton duck broken
Arsenal have a dismal record against Brighton and Roberto De Zerbi’s outfit threatened to be the Gunners’ bogey side, having won just one of their five previous matches against the Seagulls before Sunday’s victory. The 3-0 home defeat during last season’s title race was their fourth defeat to Brighton in four years.
Few Arsenal players will have positive memories of facing Brighton but they were able to put that to one side and grind out a win, going top of the table in the process before Liverpool host Manchester United later on Sunday.
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Ferguson scouting mission
Brighton’s Evan Ferguson has proven to be one of the most exciting young forwards in world football and with Arsenal reportedly on the lookout for a new striker, they were able to get a close look at the Irishman.
Even though the majority of the game was spent in the Seagulls’ half and Ferguson had few opportunities to showcase his talents, his hold-up play was impressive before being substituted off at the hour mark and any Arsenal scouts will be encouraged with the progress that the 19-year-old is making.
Set-piece dominance
Jesus’ goal from an inswinging Saka corner was Arsenal’s 10th set-piece league goal of the season, with no team managing more from corners and free-kicks than the Gunners.
It is another string to Arsenal’s bow that they are able to not only create an abundance of chances from open play, but at dead balls they are equally as deadly – though Brighton will be disappointed that Jesus was free at the back post to open the scoring.
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Vintage Arteta on touchline
Arteta was back on the touchline following his one-match ban against Aston Villa and immediately received a yellow card – his fourth of the season. After recently being cleared by the FA for his outburst at the officiating, he immediately pulled up Tim Robinson as he felt that Kaoru Mitoma deserved a booking for a foul on Saka.
Once Mitoma pulled Saka back close to the dugout, the official did not immediately book the Japanese winger and Arteta made sure to alert Robinson by waving in his direction. Mitoma did then get shown a yellow card, but not before the Arsenal boss received the same punishment.
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