Premier League GW17 - Arsenal vs Brighton

Arsenal vs Brighton | Picture Credits: Premier League Website

A high-stakes Premier League match between Arsenal and Brighton was observed at the Emirates Stadium in an exciting match. The Gunners faced a tough Brighton team under Roberto De Zerbi, hoping to temporarily reclaim the top spot in light of their close championship miss from the previous season.

Arsenal:

Though they will always be plagued by the memory of Manchester City defeating them to win the title the previous season, the hosts have had another fantastic start to the campaign. The recent Premier League loss to Aston Villa, which was only 1-0, and Liverpool's impressive run will not ease any anxieties. The Gunners will go to the top if they win here, at least momentarily, ahead of Liverpool's match later on Sunday against Manchester United.

Brighton:

Brighton won five of their first six Premier League games to kick off the season in spectacular manner. Nonetheless, the Seagulls' pursuit of the European berths lost steam after a bleak six-game run that saw them spend more than two months without a league victory. Though Roberto De Zerbi's team has won two of the last four league games, Brighton supporters will be hopeful that they can regain the momentum they had at the beginning of the campaign.

Starting XI:

ARSENAL (4-3-3):

David Raya; Ben White, William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes, Oleksandr Zinchenko; Martin Odegaard, Declan Rice, Kai Havertz; Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Martinelli.

SUBS: Reiss Nelson, Eddie Nketiah, Emile Smith Rowe, Aaron Ramsdale, Jakub Kiwior, Cedric Soares, Leandro Trossard, Myles Anthony Lewis-Skelly, Reuell Walters.

BRIGHTON (4-2-3-1):

Bart Verbruggen; Joel Veltman, Jan-Paul van Hecke, Lewis Dunk, James Milner; Pascal Gross, Billy Gilmour; Simon Adingra, Adam Lallana, Kaoru Mitoma; Evan Ferguson.

SUBS: Facundo Buonanotte, Danny Welbeck, Igor, Jason Steele, Carlos Balepa, Mahmoud Dahoud, Jack Hinshelwood, Joao Pedro, Jakub Moder.

Emirates Stadium | Picture Credits: The FA

First Half: Arsenal's Dominance

Arsenal showed their attacking strength in the first half, controlling territory and possession. The Gunners were unable to break the deadlock in spite of Verbruggen's outstanding effort in the Brighton goal. The closest shots were from Odegaard's curling attempt and Martinelli's misdirected shot, but the Seagulls' defense held strong.

Second Half: 53rd Minute - Jesus Unleashes the Storm

The much-needed breakthrough for Arsenal came in the second half. The Emirates erupted in the 53rd minute as Gabriel Jesus took advantage of defensive lapses. Jesus was unmarked at the back post and used his strength to head the ball into the net when Van Hecke failed to clear Saka's corner. When Arsenal took a crucial 1-0 lead, the Emirates erupted.

Arsenal kept up their pressure, trying to win all three points. In the 82nd minute, Brighton, who was having trouble creating opportunities, received a lifeline. Gross was in a fantastic position after a clever play, but the Brighton midfielder wasted the chance by shooting wide. Arsenal, who held onto their slim advantage, were let down.

Arsenal wanted to guarantee the outcome as the match neared its end. A quick counterattack in the 87th minute demonstrated the Gunners' precision finishing. Kai Havertz was found by Nketiah's accurate through pass, and he marched confidently towards goal before chipping the ball gently over Verbruggen. Havertz's goal completed the score at 2-0, setting off another frenzy in the Emirates.

Top Spot Beckons for Arsenal

After a well-earned 2-0 victory over Brighton, Arsenal celebrated as the full-time whistle blew around the Emirates. Arsenal temporarily took the lead in the standings after a strong second half that followed a dismal first half.

While Arsenal celebrates this decisive win, they focus on a crucial match at Anfield against Liverpool. Brighton drops to ninth place as a result of the loss. When the Seagulls play Crystal Palace on Thursday, they hope to recover.

Both teams struggled to score in the first half as both side's defence held strong | Picture Credits: Premier League Website

Jesus scored and broke the deadlock for Arsenal | Picture Credits: Premier League Website

Havertz chipped the ball over Verbruggen and doubled Arsenal's lead | Picture Credits: Premier League Website