Odegaard strikes as Arsenal edge Brighton to reclaim top spot
Arsenal returned to the summit of the Premier League with a 2-1 victory over Brighton at the Emirates, captain Martin Odegaard scoring his first club goal of the season to set Mikel Arteta’s side on their way. The Norwegian’s early strike was followed by a second-half own goal before the visitors mounted a late fightback.
Declan Rice’s corner forced Georginio Rutter into turning the ball into his own net, doubling Arsenal’s advantage. Brighton responded through Diego Gomez, who converted a rebound midway through the second half, and the Seagulls pressed hard late on, only to be denied by a superb David Raya save from Yankuba Minteh.
The win lifts Arsenal to 42 points from 18 matches, two clear of Manchester City, who had briefly taken top spot earlier in the day. Brighton, without a win in five, remain 12th. For Arsenal, it was a third consecutive narrow victory, underlining their growing ability to grind out results in tight contests.
The Emirates crowd witnessed a dominant first-half display, with Odegaard pulling the strings in midfield and Bukayo Saka providing the assist for the opener. Arsenal’s control was evident, with Verbruggen forced into saves from Martin Zubimendi, Rice and Viktor Gyokeres, yet the hosts failed to kill the game off before Brighton’s late surge.
Key incidents included Odegaard’s disallowed effort for offside before his breakthrough, Calafiori’s injury in the warm-up that forced Rice into an unfamiliar full-back role, and Gabriel’s return from injury as a second-half substitute. Raya’s reflexes on his 150th Arsenal appearance proved decisive in preserving the points.
Odegaard’s goal arrived in the 14th minute, a crisp left-footed finish drilled low past Verbruggen after Saka’s clever pass. Arsenal’s second came eight minutes after the restart, Rice’s corner flicking off Rutter and into the net. Brighton’s reply followed soon after, Gomez slamming home after Ayari’s shot struck the post.
The second half saw Arsenal lose some of their earlier control, dropping deeper after conceding. Brighton grew in confidence, pushing numbers forward and testing Arsenal’s defensive organisation. Arteta’s side relied on counter-attacks and Raya’s composure to withstand the pressure.
Late drama unfolded as Minteh curled towards the top corner, only for Raya to claw the ball over. Sassi’s side pressed until the final whistle, but Arsenal held firm to secure another vital win.
For Arteta, the victory was another sign of resilience. With Gabriel back earlier than expected and Timber still sidelined, squad depth remains a concern. Yet Arsenal’s ability to respond to City’s challenge and reclaim top spot keeps their title ambitions alive. Narrow wins may prove the difference if they are to end a 21-year wait for the Premier League crown.