Brighton 2-4 Arsenal: Match report, player ratings, expert analysis, fan reaction and more

 Brighton 2-4 Arsenal: Match report, player ratings, expert analysis, fan reaction and more

Premier League pace-setters Arsenal have closed out the 2022 calendar year in style after a 4-2 win on the south coast against Brighton at the American Express Community Stadium, solidifying their position at the top of the table in what is proving to be an incredible season under Mikel Arteta.

After watching Manchester City drop valuable points at home against Everton earlier today, a young Gunners outfit had all the fuel they needed to keep the engines running to bookend the first half of the season, and once again it was familiar young faces that proved decisive when it has mattered most.

Happy new year, Gooners 😁 pic.twitter.com/LhpGiRJ5lh

— Arsenal (@Arsenal) December 31, 2022

The Gunners should not have wished for a better start against one of their traditional bogey opponents of late after England starlet Bukayo Saka fired Arteta’s men into an early 1-0 lead after just 66-seconds when his effort found its way past Robert Sánchez after Arsenal recovered possession in Brighton’s third of the pitch only for Gabriel Martinelli’s cross to deflect off Lewis Dunk to gift Saka with a guilt-edged chance.

Despite the early one-goal deficit, Roberto De Zerbi’s men gradually worked themselves back into proceedings and enjoyed passages of play that seemed to offer enough evidence to suggest that the Seagulls could level matters on the scoresheet, particularly with Brighton boasting over 60% possession after 20-plus-minutes of action.