Brighton 2 Arsenal 4: Back-to-back bonus for Gunners as rivals slip

There are no two-ways about it, Arsenal have spoiled us over this festive period.

I confess, I thought we’d do well to come away from the AMEX with a draw on Saturday night but the team defied my expectations to collect a superb – albeit slightly nervy – victory, their second in quick succession following the resumption of the Premier League on Boxing Day.

What more could any of us have asked for?

Any lingering doubts about this side being able to pick up where they left off have been dispelled and we not only retained our place at the top of the table, we actually extended our lead to seven points as Manchester City were held to a 1-1 draw by Everton. Amazing.

Once again, our very own fab front three did the business, with goals for Bukayo Saka, Gabi Martinelli and Eddie Nketiah, while the red hot Martin Odegaard dazzled once more in the centre of the park. The Norwegian is almost unplayable right now and shaping up to be the bargain of the decade. He has style, control and vision that is almost unrivalled in the league right now.

Saka and Martinelli are producing the sort of consistency you might expect of players with many more years under their belts, while Nketiah is doing exactly what we need him to…put the ball in the net. It’s so good to see the goals coming from all directions for this side. We don’t just have one or two big threats, we have three or four at least. It must be a real pain to plan for and defend against.

And yes, there were times things got a little chaotic in the second half as Brighton threw caution to the wind and pulled a few goals back (thanks VAR!) but that happens in football, particularly to teams as young as ours. What was vital was that we’d built up enough of a cushion in the game to keep the fire at bay and that we were able to regroup before any lasting sense of panic was able to take hold.

It wasn’t what you’d describe as a routine win but it is absolutely worth bearing in mind that we had only beaten this Brighton side twice in our previous 10 encounters coming into the game. They have become something of a bogey side in recent years but we went some way to dispelling that hoodoo with a swashbuckling attacking display.

Afterwards, the manager said:

[There is] still a long, long run to go. My excitement comes when I go in the dressing room and the players are talking about what they should’ve done better today. That means they know that we still can play better, be better and against Newcastle we will have to be better.

Mikel Arteta

He’s cool on the idea of us staking our claim to the league title and that’s fine. He would like foolish if he came out and declared that we were in it to win it. As Arsenal fans, we know only too well that it’s the hope that kills you. However, the sort of performances we are seeing, including that at Brighton, build our confidence brick-by-brick, they give us all reason to believe and they build momentum behind the team.

The manager is right, there is still such a long way to go and things can change so quickly in football but we keep doing all the things we need to do while others falter. There are going to be tougher games and tougher moments ahead in this season but, at the moment, this young team is defying all the odds and winning matches where they have no right to.

Brighton is one of those sorts of games that serves as a barometer for where we are as a squad and what we might or might not be able to do in the second half of the season. It’s a tricky place to go and play football, not least in such terrible conditions as were on show last night and bearing in mind our chequered history down on the south coast.

Despite all that, and despite our relative youth and inexperience, we came away with a huge win and sent a message not only to our rivals but to our supporters; it’s time to take us seriously.

Happy new year to you all. Best wishes for a healthy and happy 2023.