Arsenal returned to the highest of the Premier League with a 2-1 win over Brighton on the Emirates.
After Man Metropolis gained the lunchtime kick-off at Nottingham Forest, the stress was on for the crew, who’ve completed runners-up within the league for the previous three seasons.
Nonetheless, they obtained off to a very good begin, with Victor Gokeres side-footing Dangerous Verbruggen inside two minutes, and two minutes earlier Bukayo Saka’s effort previous Maxim de Kuiper, however Verbruggen’s equalization from shut vary ought to have been higher.
Saka then scored the opening aim with a aim kick.
Martin Zvimendi was the primary to react to Verbruggen’s hospital cross, then Delkan Reis’ header hit Bukayo Saka and the ball went to Martin Odegaard.
The Arsenal captain had loads of room to spare and settled in with one contact earlier than firing a low left-footed shot into the underside nook of the aim.
Two half-chances adopted for Saka and Rice, and in a battle for the aim, Verbruggen parried Zvimendi’s spectacular backheel.
Verbruggen drew consideration simply earlier than half-time by slamming dwelling Gokeres on the far touchline, however he escaped with a warning, leaving Brighton only one level behind.
Nonetheless, lower than seven minutes into the second half, a free Rutter headed dwelling on the close to put up, giving Verbruggen no probability and the hosts doubled their benefit.
This resulted in one other aim from a nook kick, giving Arsenal their fourth personal aim in three dwelling video games.
Gokeres’ shot was blocked by Verbruggen after the hour mark, however Arsenal had been on cruise management because the Sweden worldwide waited for a aim in a seven-game exhibition sequence.
That was till Yassine Ayali’s shot hit David Raya’s far put up and Diego Gomez tapped within the rebound. Raya’s flying fingertip cease then thwarted Yankuba Minte’s curling try amid a immediately anxious dwelling help.
Arsenal have been vulnerable to conceding late targets of late and Mikel Arteta took his knees when substitute Gabriel Martinelli despatched a six-yard shot over the bar with 5 minutes remaining.
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However the Spaniards managed to recover from the road and decide up the important three factors to maintain Pep Guardiola’s in-form Metropolis inside hanging distance.
Raya’s otherworldly saves stored Brighton at bay, however Paul Merson was additionally in awe of Odegaard’s play.
Paul Merson says Martin Odegaard’s recreation for Arsenal was his greatest in years
In a panel dialogue on Sky Sports activities Soccer Saturday shortly after Arsenal’s treasured victory, Merson claimed the Norwegian had put in his most convincing efficiency in years.
Merson mentioned Odegaard had performed his “greatest recreation of soccer” for the Gunners “for a very long time” and lavished reward on the playmaker who endured a very stop-start marketing campaign.
The Norwegian captain has performed simply 628 minutes in 12 Premier League video games, however has surprisingly not scored a aim in all competitions till this afternoon.
He additionally recorded only one help within the league, which is a big lower from eight assists final season and 11 assists the yr earlier than.
Odegaard’s season has been marred by accidents, with the captain choosing up a shoulder drawback within the first dwelling recreation of the 25/26 season towards Leeds United, forcing him to withdraw for the primary half.
He additionally turned the primary participant in Premier League historical past to start out three video games in a row and be substituted earlier than half-time after sustaining a medial collateral ligament (MCL) damage in his left knee towards West Ham in October.
The £240,000-a-week star is presently working his manner again to full health, and Arteta will likely be hoping that continues till 2026.
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