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arsenal Move back to top Premier League 2-1 victory over opponent brighton On Emirates Airlines.
Mikel Artetaside The penultimate game begins best of the year One point behind Manchester City But they took the lead after just 14 minutes Martin Odegaard Scored his first goal of the season.
Brighton’s Georginio Root headed Declan Rice’s corner into his own net after 52 minutes, but the visitors only got back into the game shortly after the end when Diego Gomez scored.
David Raya made a superb diving save to keep out Yankuba Minteh’s shot with 15 minutes left in what could be a crucial stop in Arsenal’s bid for a first league title in two decades.
The victory moved Arsenal two points ahead of Manchester City at the start of the season, when they host third-placed Aston Villa on Tuesday. Brighton took just 2 points from a possible 15 and slipped to 12th.
Unfortunately for Arteta, his defensive problems were exacerbated before kick-off when Ricardo Calafiore picked up an injury in the warm-up. Both julien lumber co. And Ben White is out – Rice has impressed as an emergency right back – while Christian Mosquera is also out. Gabrielwho has Out since November 8returned as a substitute in the second half.
City won after a lunchtime kick-off at Nottingham Forest, with the pressure now on a team that has been league runners-up for the past three seasons.
However, they started well and Victor Jakres should have done better, side-footing Bart Verbruggen inside two minutes before Bukayo Saka slinked past Maxime de Kuupe only to find Verbruggen equalizing his shot from close range.
Saka then found the back of the net with his shot. Martin Zubimendi reacted first to Verbruggen’s hospital pass, with Rice’s header finding Saka who passed the ball to Odegaard.
The Arsenal captain was given too much space and he cooled down after touching the ball before firing a low left-footed shot into the bottom corner.
Saka and Rice then had two half-chances, and Verbruggen then parried Zubimendi’s beautiful backheel after a goal-rushing run.
Verbruggen was thrust into the spotlight just before half-time when he knocked down Jokeres on the far touchline, but he cautiously escaped injury and Brighton reduced the deficit to one goal on the break.
But less than seven minutes into the second half, the unmarked Root’s header at the near post gave Verbruggen no chance, and the home team doubled their advantage.
It marked another goal from a corner and fourth own goal in three home games for Arsenal.
Joe Kreis’s shot was blocked by Verbruggen just after the hour mark – the Sweden international’s wait for a goal in the match stretched to seven games – but Arsenal appeared to be in cruise control.
That was until Yassin Ayari’s shot hit Raya’s far post and Gomez fired the rebound into the goal. Raya’s leaping fingertip deflected off Minteh’s curling effort and the home support was suddenly filled with anxiety.
Arsenal have made a habit of conceding late goals of late and Arteta went to his knees when substitute Gabriel Martinelli’s six-yard shot sailed over the crossbar with five minutes remaining.
But the Spaniard’s side scored a crucial three points from the penalty line to keep in-form City at arm’s length from Guardiola.