Arsenal .. a win was a must
Arsenal had to keep winning. Arteta, his team, and all his fans knew it. Nothing else would do as the sprint to the finish line beckons in the Premier League.
The Amex down south in Sussex was a tough spot. Brighton hadn’t lost the last 12 at the Amex, and despite being affected by injuries, they are always a tough lot.
90 minutes later, Arsenal got what they needed at this stage. a solid 3-0 win. It was a performance with a muscle. Brighton, though steady all through, was never in with a whiff.
Early in the first half, Saka cut in from the right end and whipped one past the far post. Arsenal were creating the right amount of pressure. Ben White was once again a constant part of the activity down the right lane. Yet again, the former Brighton man put out a stellar show throughout the match. Havertz was floating around in his central role. It was Jesus, however, who triggered the first goal. It was more of a gift as Tariq Lamptey, the young Brighton, right back, in a moment of naivety, tripped Jesus in the box. Saka put the penalty away to give Arsenal the lead that they took to halftime.
An Arsenal understated masterclass
The second half was a classy, businesslike effort from Arsenal. For a brief moment, the usually busy Brighton team looked sluggish, and Jorginho found himself hugging the lines after getting behind them. A smooth cross was guided in by Havertz, and Arsenal were two up. Havertz has found his spark after a long settling-in period as a Gunner, and the solidity he offers is evident in the Arsenal squad.
Perhaps the one moment that had to come played out after Leandra Trossard, who had a rather acrimonious exit from Brighton after falling out with the Brighton coach Zerbi, was brought on. With the Brighton midfield pushing, Havertz found a loose ball and set Trossard free. He took his chance and sprinted into the box with a Brighton player in chase. The Belgian kept his cool, sending the goalkeeper down with a running dink and twisting the knife into Brighton’s wounds. He was booed when he came in, and he repaid the home fans by celebrating and thumping the Arsenal logo on his shirt. There was nothing soft out there.
Arsenal are back on top of the table. City, who beat Palace 4-2, is just behind. Liverpool have Manchester United to face on Sunday, and they may well be back on top.
The top of the table is a constantly changing screen and might well remain so for the next few months as the Premier League heads towards one of its most thrilling three-way races.
Great review