Mik’s Bright sparks are back on top of the pile
Gunners pass a test of title mettle to pile the pressure on Liverpool
BRIGHTON... 0 ARSENAL... 3
ALAN SMITH AT THE AMEX STADIUM
ARSENAL are back at the summit and the way they bashed Brighton suggests they have the bottle to stay there.
Bukayo Saka and Kai Havertz put Mikel Arteta’s Gunners in control before sub Leandro Trossard added the third against his former club late on.
And after Albion’s 3-0 win at the Emirates a year ago put paid to those title hopes, this was a showing that proved how much they have matured since.
Saka said: “We are all buzzing – we know the win takes us back on top.
“To come here after playing three days ago, I am really happy for all the boys who put in another performance. We are building momentum.”
Saka, who opened the scoring from the penalty spot, admitted he is not at his physical best after being subbed in the second half.
The 22-year-old added: “I was struggling but as long as I have two legs I will give everything. I want to be on the pitch.”
Arteta’s side have had easier games and keeper David Raya was called into action several times in an end-to-end opening period, not least a full-stretch stop to keep out Julio Enciso.
Yet there was no looking back once Saka scored from the penalty spot after Tariq Lamptey fouled Gabriel Jesus with a little more than half an hour played.
The full-back grazed the ball before connecting with Jesus’ leg but it was late, clumsy and a clear foul.
Following some home complaints and a VAR check, Saka drilled into the bottom left corner.
The opener arrived just as the Gunners’ early momentum at the Amex appeared to be slowing after a ferocious start.
Gabriel inexplicably headed wide with only 63 seconds on the clock, while Jesus headed a Havertz cross across the face of goal.
All that occurred inside 15 minutes but Brighton began to enjoy their fair share of threatening bursts.
The Gunners’ pressure eventually yielded a second goal in the 62nd minute and while the excellent Havertz finished it off, plenty of credit should go to Jorginho.
Having laid the ball off to Ben White, who then passed to Martin Odegaard, the Italian midfielder embarked on a rare overlap behind Pervis Estupinan.
He gratefully received Odegaard’s through ball and swiftly slid a low cross towards the near post.
Havertz was under pressure but looked unruffled as he tapped in.
Sub Trossard would wrap up the victory when racing clear of Brighton’s obscenely high defensive line before lifting the ball over the Bart Verbruggen, celebrating in front of jubilant away end.
Brighton boss Roberto de Zerbi refused to be drawn into a debate on the opener and said: “The penalty was clear and we move on. The effort was good, good enough to decide this game.
“We played a good first half – until the second goal we were in the game and then finish.”