Brighton vs Arsenal LIVE: Premier League result, final score and reaction as Gunners extend lead at the top

Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal take on Brighton with hopes of maintaining their lead at the top of the Premier League table

Arteta insists potential new Arsenal striker needs to be the right fit

Premier League leaders Arsenal moved seven points clear at the top going into the new year after a glorious Gabriel Martinelli goal capped a thrilling 4-2 victory at Brighton.

Goals from Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard and Eddie Nketiah set the Gunners on course for a fifth consecutive top-flight success to cement their status as serious title contenders.

Kaoru Mitoma reduced Albion’s deficit 25 minutes from time before Martinelli, aided by a wonderful Odegaard assist, raced half the length of the pitch to stylishly restore the three-goal advantage.

Seagulls substitute Evan Ferguson increased the tension going into the final stages by claiming his first Premier League goal, while Mitoma thought he had set up a grandstand finish, only for his 89th-minute strike to be disallowed for offside.

Despite the unwanted anxiety of the late drama, the in-form visitors held on to celebrate an impressive victory and take a healthy advantage into 2023.

Follow all the reaction from Brighton vs Arsenal in the Premier League:

Brighton vs Arsenal

• Roberto De Zerbi’s men are looking to record back-to-back wins after victory over Southampton
• Arsenal are guaranteed to start 2023 top of the table but will want to maintain their lead over rivals
• 90’ NO GOAL! - Mitoma’s effort ruled out for offside (BHA 2-4 ARS)
• 77’ GOAL! - Ferguson scores first Premier League goal (BHA 2-4 ARS)
• 71’ GOAL! - Martinelli restores Arsenal’s three goal lead (BHA 1-4 ARS)
• 65’ GOAL! - Mitoma pulls one back for Brighton (BHA 1-3 ARS)
• 57’ SAVE! - Gabriel’s volley is kept out by Sanchez (BHA 0-3 ARS)
• 47’ GOAL! - Nketiah taps home Martinelli’s blocked shot early in second half (BHA 0-3 ARS)
• 39’ GOAL! - Odegaard adds a second from a corner (BHA 0-2 ARS)
• 27’ SAVE! - Ramsdale tips Trossard’s long range effort over the bar (BHA 0-1 ARS)
• 15’ CHANCE! - Trossard’s effort turned wide by Ramsdale (BHA 0-1 ARS)
• 2’ GOAL! - Saka blasts Arsenal ahead early on (BHA 0-1 ARS)

[31 December 2022 19:19 · Michael Jones]

GOAL! Brighton 3-4 Arsenal (Mitoma, 89’)⚽️

89 mins: Game on! A Brighton throw in comes to Evan Ferguson on the edge of the box and he controls it into the path of Kaoru Mitoma who takes the ball off him and drives into the penalty area.

Arsenal give him too much space and Mitoma slots his shot into the bottom corner. VAR is checking the goal though, will this one stand?

[31 December 2022 19:18 · Michael Jones]

Brighton 2-4 Arsenal

86 mins: Martin Odegaard gets a rousing reception from the Arsenal supporters as he heads of the pitch to be replaced with Rob Holding.

Mikel Arteta is trying to shore up this lead.

[31 December 2022 19:14 · Michael Jones]

Brighton 2-4 Arsenal

83 mins: Brighton flick the ball into the box from the right but the pass is too high for Ferguson and Saliba boots the ball clear. Overturning two more goals may be too much of a task for the Seagulls but they’re giving it a good go.

[31 December 2022 19:11 · Michael Jones]

Brighton 2-4 Arsenal

80 mins: 10 minutes to play at the Amex Stadium and Arsenal are in danger of letting this game slip. Brighton are in the ascendancy with the Gunners drifting towards the end of the game.

Jeremy Sarmiento looks to dribble around Kieran Tierney and throws himself to the ground on the edge of the box. There’s no contact there and the referee books him for simulation.

[31 December 2022 19:07 · Michael Jones]

GOAL! Brighton 2-4 Arsenal (Ferguson, 77’)⚽️

77 mins: Huge moment for Evan Ferguson!

The 18-year-old makes a run from deep and sweeps in between William Saliba and Gabriel as Brighton knock the ball over the top. He collects the ball shrugs off Saliba’s attempted tackle and drives into the box.

Aaron Ramsdale comes out to close him down but Ferguson slides the ball between the goalkeeper’s legs to net his first ever goal in the Premier League!

[31 December 2022 19:06 · Michael Jones]

Brighton 1-4 Arsenal

74 mins: Arsenal are heading seven points at the top of the table heading into the new year. Even team in the Premier League era with that kind of lead has gone on to win the title - though due to the World Cup Arsenal have played fewer matches up to this point.

March dribbles past Tierney and slides a pass across to Sarmiento who turns his shot wide of the near post.

[31 December 2022 19:02 · Michael Jones]

GOAL! Brighton 1-4 Arsenal (Martinelli, 71’)⚽️

71 mins: That eases the pressure! Jeremy Sarmiento goes on a driving run into the Arsenal back but his cutback comes to Thomas Partey.

Partey feeds the ball into midfield where Martin Odegaard flicks the ball up the pitch in behind Tariq Lamptey. Gabriel Martinelli collects it and drives into the box before fizzing his effort past Robert Sanchez!

[31 December 2022 18:59 · Michael Jones]

Brighton 1-3 Arsenal

68 mins: Is there hope for Brighton to get back into this game? That goal came from a lovely move from the Seagulls and they’ll believe that they can get another one.

Arsenal now face an awkward 20 minutes or so.

[31 December 2022 18:54 · Michael Jones]

GOAL! Brighton 1-3 Arsenal (Mitoma, 65’)⚽️

65 mins: Brighton get one back! Lewis Dunk brings the ball up from the back and threads a great pass into the feet of Pascal Gross on the edge of the box.

Gross plays a reverse pass to Kaoru Mitoma who calmly guides the ball past Aaron Ramsdale to get Brighton on the scoresheet.

[31 December 2022 18:53 · Michael Jones]

Brighton 0-3 Arsenal

60 mins: It’s time for some substitutions now.

Ben White and Oleksandr Zinchenko are hooked off by Mikel Arteta just before the hour mark with Takehiro Tomiyasu and Kieran Tierney brought on to replace them.

Jeremy Sarmiento and Evan Ferguson come on for Brighton with Leandro Trossard and Adam Lallana the two players to go off.