After a thrilling 4-2 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion at the AMEX Stadium, Arsenal will begin 2023 with a seven-point advantage at the top of the Premier League.
The Gunners sailed into a 3-0 lead early in the second half and held off the prospect of a Brighton comeback to earn their 14th victory in 16 league games this season, buoyed by Manchester City's earlier draw with Everton.
Bukayo Saka gave Arsenal the lead after just two minutes, giving them the impression that they were in the mood to ring in the new year on the south coast. Since Theo Walcott's strike against QPR in 2013, it was the Gunners' first away goal in the Premier League.
After a corner, Martin Odegaard bounded in a shot to give the visitors a comfortable lead six minutes before halftime. Brighton had struggled to consistently threaten Aaron Ramsdale in the opposing goal.
After the break, Eddie Nketiah took advantage of some sloppy goalkeeping by Robert Sanchez to make it 3-0, but even though it appeared that the game was finished, Kaoru Mitoma scored from just inside the box to give Brighton some hope.
Gabriel Martinelli, who consistently outplayed Tariq Lamptey, ran onto a beautiful first-time ball from Odegaard to score beneath Sanchez and restore the two-goal lead, but Brighton resisted.
After Mitoma deflected a shot into the bottom-right corner, teenage substitute Evan Ferguson capitalised on some sloppy defending from Gabriel to nudge the ball underneath Ramsdale, but a VAR review resulted in a penalty for a slight offside.
The disallowed goal appeared to demoralise the Brighton players, allowing Arsenal to hold on to what might be a very important victory in what is beginning to appear to be a serious title push.
Should Arsenal supporters begin to believe?
From their first 16 Premier League games, Arsenal has accrued 43 points. Only four other English top-flight teams have ever accomplished it during the three-points-per-win period, and they all went on to win the season's championship.
This was a big chance for Arteta's team to make a statement after Man City lost to Everton, but they were up against a Brighton team that had won the previous two meetings, most recently in the League Cup in November. They were in the lead after only 66 seconds. They had a 3-0 lead after 47 minutes. Describe a performance fit for a champion.
Make no mistake: this was a statement win from true title contenders. Sure, they were far more shaky in the final half-hour than Arteta would have wanted, and only Mitoma's rear heel prevented Brighton from making it 4-3 with about seven minutes to play.
Odegaard enters 2023 with swagger
Odegaard's strike that gave Arsenal a 2-0 lead appeared to be little off target, but given the way the Arsenal captain is playing, you have to presume he meant it.
The 24-year-old is clearly demonstrating this season why so many clubs throughout Europe were eager to get him as a teenager thanks to Arteta. With some amazing quick footwork, he created an opportunity for Martinelli, scored an important goal before halftime, and then helped Martinelli score Arsenal's fourth goal with an absolutely beautiful first-time pass behind the Brighton defence.
Few, if any, Premier League players are in better shape as the new year approaches.
Live updates and video highlights from Brighton vs. Arsenal in the Premier League FULLTIME: That concludes the Premier League season of 2022! The Gunners enter the new year with a seven-point cushion at the top after taking all three points from a six-goal thriller against Brighton.
90 + 4: Gabriel takes a chance by yanking on Jeremy Sarmiento's shirt within the box, but there wasn't really anything he could do. Arsenal is now working to resolve this.
90 minutes in: KAORU MITOMA scores, but it is ruled to be illegal! A VAR review reveals the winger's back foot was offside when he received the ball, despite the fact that he drove into the area from the left after collecting a bounced pass from Evan Ferguson and sent a deflected shot past Aaron Ramsdale. Brighton should be quite upset about that, but Arsenal supporters can finally exhale.
In the 88th minute, Bukayo Saya (who is on a yellow) trips Kaoru Mitoma, prompting several yells of "off, off, off!" from the home crowd. However, he is rightfully not booked.
Arsenal scored and Pascal Gross' delivery wasn't great.
85 minutes: What a great game this has been. After the way Arsenal played for the first hour, Mikel Arteta won't be delighted to see the outcome in doubt, but the three points will be all that matters at this moment. To ensure success, he substitutes Rob Holding for Martin Odegaard.
80 minutes: Even though the Seagulls don't finish up with a victory, that was a memorable occasion for the Brighton kid. Jeremy Sarmiento is attempting to keep their dreams alive, but he dives while going to the ground too quickly on the brink of the Arsenal box.
BRIGHTON, GIVE US A SECOND! Let's talk about New Year's Eve entertainment, then! When William Saliba mishandles a straightforward long ball forward, substitute Evan Ferguson hustles for goal. The ball appears to be rolled beneath Aaron Ramsdale as he appears to try to dive on it. Maybe, just maybe, this one isn't over...
ARSENAL MAKE IT FOUR IN 70 MINUTES! Gabriel Martinelli has undoubtedly ended the game moments after a good Brighton onslaught. Martinelli, who had once again gotten in behind Tariq Lamptey, is released by Martin Odegaard thanks to a brilliant pass. The Arsenal winger pokes the ball underneath Robert Sanchez despite his best efforts to catch him. That must indicate that this one is over, right?
60 minutes: Both sides are now making a few adjustments. With the possible exception of Pervis Estupinan, who is still bombing down the Brighton left at every opportunity, it seems like everyone in the stadium believes this is finished.
53 seconds: Bukayo Saka receives a warning for tripping Pervis Estupinan as he was driving into the Arsenal half. He is currently one suspension away. Brighton is trying to get back into this, but, to be completely honest, they don't seem to think it's possible.
47 minutes in, ARSENAL leads 3-0! Sorry Brighton supporters, but I believe I cursed that. Another free run into the box by Gabriel Martinelli allows Robert Sanchez to miss with his shot, and Eddie Nketiah pokes the ball home from almost on the goal line. Put a fork in it; it's finished.
46 mins: Only three clubs this season in all competitions have defeated Arsenal, so can Brighton pull off a stunning comeback? Let's investigate...
ALMOST AS GOOD AS ARSENAL COULD HAVE HOPED FOR AT HALF TIME. Bukayo Saka scored so quickly that it appeared to shake Brighton out of their prior strong performance, and Martin Odegaard extended the lead.
The Gunners have won 14 of their previous 16 games, it appears.
45 + 2 minutes: After waiting all night for a yellow card, three appear at once! For a last-second tackle on Adam Lallana, Thomas Partey now receives one of his own. Anthony Taylor is now giving the managers a swift talking-to, which I'm amazed we couldn't actually hear considering how hushed the crowd has grown.
Billy Gilmour spends 45 minutes digging through the book to slay Thomas Partey. That didn't sit well with Arsenal, but a warning seemed reasonable. Gabriel receives a yellow card a little while later, apparently for wasting time. Someone should inform him that it is a little early for that.
ARSENAL MAKES IT 2-0 IN 39 MINUTES! Billy Gilmour only manages to get Martin Odegaard just inside the box before clearing Bukayo Saka's corner. The captain of Arsenal appeared to mishit his first-time attempt, but it went high into the goal after rebounding off the ground and through the congested box. The Gunners are winning games!
Aaron Ramsdale might be having a difficulty at 37 minutes. The Arsenal goalkeeper appeared to be gripping his hamstring while yelling at Mikel Arteta. With halftime less than ten minutes away, it appears that he will continue for the time being.
Ben White demonstrated some incredibly tenacious resolve in the 33rd minute to prevent Pervis Estupinan from crossing from the left. Brighton is a terrific match for Arsenal in this situation; they simply struggle to find a way through in the final third.
Tariq Lamptey receives applause from the home crowd after defeating Gabriel Martinelli in a duel in minute 29. The Brazilian then appeared poised to launch a strike just inside the box, but he was successfully blocked by him.
Aaron Ramsdale might be having a difficulty at 37 minutes. The Arsenal goalkeeper appeared to be gripping his hamstring while yelling at Mikel Arteta. With halftime less than ten minutes away, it appears that he will continue for the time being.
Ben White demonstrated some incredibly tenacious resolve in the 33rd minute to prevent Pervis Estupinan from crossing from the left. Brighton is a terrific match for Arsenal in this situation; they simply struggle to find a way through in the final third.
Tariq Lamptey receives applause from the home crowd after defeating Gabriel Martinelli in a duel in minute 29. The Brazilian then appeared poised to launch a strike just inside the box, but he was successfully blocked by him.
15 minutes in: After a hectic start, the game has somewhat calmed down. Brighton had several consecutive corners, but Arsenal stopped them (despite some less-than-convincing goalkeeping from Aaron Ramsdale).
7 minutes in: Since the goal, Martin Odegaard has made several inroads into the Brighton defence, while Gabriel Martinelli has had another chance stopped. Brighton is merely attempting to regain its footing.
ARSENAL TAKES THE LEAD IN 2 MINUTES! The Gunners are moving quickly to complete this, so they must have plans for New Year's Eve! When Bukayo Saka receives the ball from Gabriel Martinelli in the box, he has the time and space to side-foot past Robert Sanchez.
Just like every other Premier League stadium in recent days, the AMEX Stadium pays tribute to the legendary Pele five minutes before kickoff.
30 minutes before kickoff: If Arsenal wins, they will have a seven-point advantage over Manchester City in the standings going into 2023 after the Citizens could only draw 1-1 with Everton at home.
The team news is announced one hour before the KO! Oleksandr Zinchenko replaces Kieran Tierney as the lone alteration for Arsenal.
Billy Gilmour has come in for the suspended Moises Caicedo, and Tariq Lamptey has been inserted at right-back in place of Joel Veltman. Brighton has made two changes from the lineup that defeated Southampton.
15 minutes before kickoff: Brighton has proven to be difficult for Arsenal. They have won each of the previous two, in the league in April and the League Cup just last month, and have only lost two of the previous 10 encounters with Arteta's team. For the first time ever, the Seagulls are attempting to defeat Arsenal three times in a row.
The Gunners are attempting to end the year on a successful note with one hour and thirty minutes remaining. Regardless of what happens elsewhere today, Mikel Arteta's team will lead the league going into 2023, but a victory over a Brighton team that is still doing well under Roberto De Zerbi would be a further indication of their intentions.
2 hours before KO: Welcome to Brighton & Hove Albion and Arsenal's final game of 2022. Can the Gunners continue their remarkable run toward the title?
lineups for Brighton vs. Arsenal
Prior to this match, De Zerbi was presented with a midfield dilemma because of Moises Caicedo's suspension and Jakub Moder's injury for the visiting team. Along with Pascal Gross, Billy Gilmour received the go-ahead.
Following Argentina's World Cup celebrations, Alexis MacAllister is still unavailable, but Tariq Lamptey was given the right-back starting job.
Brighton's starting lineup (4-2-3-1) is as follows: Sanchez (GK) — Lamptey, Dunk, Colwill, Estupinan, Gross, Gilmour, March, Lallana, Mitoma, and Trossard.
Steele, Sarmiento, Enciso, Ferguson, Van Hecke, Veltman, Turns, Moran, and Hinshelwood are the substitutes for Brighton.
Eddie Nketiah will start up front in place of the injured Gabriel Jesus, maintaining Arteta's injury situation going into this game.
Oleksandr Zinchenko replaced Kieran Tierney in the win over West Ham because Takehiro Tomiyasu and Emile Smith Rowe were back in training but were still not match-ready.
Ramsdale (GK) is joined by White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko, Xhaka, Partey, Odegaard, Saka, Nketiah, and Martinelli in the Arsenal XI (4-2-3-1).
Turner, Tierney, Tomiyasu, Cedric, Holding, Elneny, Lokonga, Vieira, and Marquinhos are the substitutes for Arsenal.
What time does Brighton's game against Arsenal start?
On December 31 at 5:30 p.m. local time, this Premier League match will begin at the AMEX Stadium.
UK: Sky Sports, BT Sport, and Amazon Prime all stream and broadcast matches, with some matches also appearing on TV. Sky Sports will carry this game live.
USA: The game will be broadcast on the Spanish-language channel Universo, which you can stream on fuboTV. The Peacock platform from NBC allows access to the English-language feed.
Canada: FuboTV is the only live streaming service available in Canada for every Premier League match this season.
Australia: Optus Sport offers live and on-demand streaming of every match for Australian fans.
India: Premier League games may be viewed on the Star Sports network in India. Select matches will also be available via regional feeds on Star Sports 3 (in Bengali, English, Kannada, and Malayalam), Star Sports 1 (Bangla), and Star Sports 1 (English), in addition to an English broadcast on Star Sports Select (Tamil).
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