Arsenal vs Brighton LIVE: Premier League result and final score as Jesus and Havertz goals send hosts top
Arsenal 2-0 Brighton: Hosts move temporarily top of the table after second-half strikes from Jesus and Havertz
Arsenal moved temporarily top of the Premier League as they coasted to a comfortable 2-0 home win against Brighton courtesy of goals from Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz.
Mikel Arteta’s side dominated much of the early opening exchanges but struggled to find an opening in the first half, with Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Martinelli spurning golden opportunities.
However, their pressure would eventually tell in the second period when Jesus made the most of a defensive error from a corner to put the home side in front.
Brighton, who earlier in the week secured their place in the Europa League knockout rounds, could not reproduce a similar level of performance, with the result put beyond doubt in the 88th minute when Havertz cooly slotted under Verbruggen.
Relive the match action from our blog, below:
Arsenal vs Brighton & Hove Albion
SAVE! Verbruggen keeps the deficit at just the one with a vital stop. Arsenal catch Brighton on the counter and the ball ends up with Odegaard. He holds off a couple of Brighton defenders to get a shot away, but Verbruggen does well to parry it behind for a corner.
Arsenal vs Brighton & Hove Albion
There are some faint appeals for a penalty from the Brighton fans as Mitoma goes down under White's challenge, but the protests are half-hearted at best and the referee waves play on.
Arsenal vs Brighton & Hove Albion
Brighton's substitutes have scored more goals (10) and have more goal involvements (13) than those of any other team in the Premier League this season. Can De Zerbi's introductions make an impact again over these final 20 minutes?
Arsenal vs Brighton & Hove Albion
CLOSE! White flicks on a Martinelli corner at the near post, and the ball looks to be flying in. However, Dunk somehow gets back in the nick of time to make a crucial last-ditch intervention, nodding the ball over his own crossbar. That was a goal-saving header from the Brighton captain.
Arsenal vs Brighton & Hove Albion
Buonanotte momentarily goes down in midfield after a coming-together with Saliba. The Arsenal man gets the ball, but the follow-through seems to have caught Buonanotte on the ankle.
Arsenal vs Brighton & Hove Albion
Brighton's first shot of the game falls the way of Hinshelwood, but his header from a cross is straight at Raya. That will provide a bit of encouragement, however, that the visitors can go and find a way back into this contest.
Arsenal vs Brighton & Hove Albion
What impact will those Brighton changes have? There is plenty of time here, but the visitors will have to conjure up more of a threat going forward.
Arsenal vs Brighton & Hove Albion
De Zerbi also brings on Igor for Milner. That might mean Brighton are switching to three at the back.
Arsenal vs Brighton & Hove Albion
A change for Brighton as Lallana makes way for Buonanotte.
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