Arsenal moved seven points clear at the top of the Premier League table with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Brighton at the Amex Stadium. Bukayo Saka's early goal proved decisive, capitalising on a goalkeeping error from Bart Verbruggen, as the Gunners secured their third consecutive league win.
The match was marked by Brighton manager Fabian Hürzeler's pre-match criticism of Arsenal's time-wasting tactics, which he labelled 'anti-football' during the game. Mikel Arteta's side responded by controlling the tempo, slowing play at every opportunity, much to the frustration of the home crowd and Hürzeler, who was visibly animated on the touchline.
Arsenal's defensive resilience was key, with Gabriel Magalhães leading the backline in the absence of the injured William Saliba. Brighton created several chances, including a missed free header from Mats Wieffer and a lobbed effort from Carlos Baleba that was cleared off the line, but David Raya's saves ensured a clean sheet.
The result was further sweetened for Arsenal fans by Nottingham Forest's equaliser against Manchester City, leaving the Gunners seven points ahead, though having played one game more. The travelling supporters celebrated with chants of 'We're gonna win the league,' as Arteta's side continue their pursuit of the title.
