Havertz goes up a gear as Gunners cruise back to summit

Arsenal pick up the gauntlet thrown down by title rivals and move back to top of table as attacking verve returns against Brighton

Arsenal’s Kai Havertz (centre) celebrates with team-mates after scoring their side's second goal of the game during the Premier League match at Amex Stadium, Brighton. Picture: Gareth Fuller/PA Wire. 

Premier League: Brighton 0 Arsenal 3

Arsenal picked up the gauntlet flung down by Manchester City’s early-afternoon win at Crystal Palace by moving to the top of the table with victory over Brighton and now Mikel Arteta and his men await Liverpool’s response in their game against Manchester United at Old Trafford tomorrow.

But the Gunners had to work hard for the three points even after Bukayo Saka had put them ahead after 33 minutes from a penalty and it was not until Kai Havertz doubled the lead just after the hour that they could feel safe. Former Brighton winger Leandro Trossard rubbed it in with a late third.

The result extended Arsenal’s unbeaten record in the Premier League in 2024 to 11 games, ten of them won, and they did it against a Brighton team who had not lost at the Amex Stadium in the Premier League since the second home game of the season and still have hopes of a second successive season in Europe.

At first it looked as if Arsenal might win easily. They went close in the first minute when Gabriel beat goalkeeper and defenders to Martin Odegaard’s free kick on the left but nodded past the near post.

Ten minutes later, nobody picked up Saka’s run and he cut inside onto his left foot but fired well wide. Sixty seconds later, the England winger opted for a pass from a similar position but Bart Verbruggen dived to his left to turn the Brazil forward’s shot aside.

Arsenal’s movement was pulling Brighton out of shape, but the Seagulls had some attacking ideas of their own. They launched a series of slick, quick-passing raids and when Simon Adingra controlled Lewis Dunk’s long diagonal pass with a single touch, his next was a curling shot just beyond the angle of post and crossbar.

Arsenal’s Leandro Trossard celebrates scoring their side's third goal Picture: Gareth Fuller/PA Wire. 

However, they were slow to react after 31 minutes when the ball was played to Gabriel Jesus on the left, and referee John Brooks correctly ruled that Tariq Lamptey’s attempt to recover the situation was a foul. The defender got some of the ball but much more of Jesus and Saka hit a nerveless penalty past Verbruggen.

But only a fine save by David Raya denied Brighton an equaliser as Julio Enciso’s shot curled towards the top corner in the 44th minute.

The Seagulls had to stay in the game and Verbruggen did his part nine minutes into the second half by pawing a shot from Odegaard over the crossbar.

But their task became harder after 62 minutes when Jorginho, of all people, turned up on the right wing and his low cross was converted from a yard out by Havertz.

Brighton refused to concede defeat but their attacks lack their early-season zip before injury deprived them of Kaoru Mitoma and Solly March, and substitute Trossard skipped through four minutes from time after a defensive error to make it 3-0.

Brighton & Hove Albion (4-2-3-1): Verbruggen 7; Lamptey 6, van Hecke 7, Dunk 7, Estupinan 6; Baleba 7, Gross 7; Adingra 6, Moder 6 (Buonanotte 63, 5), Enciso 7 (Pedro 63, 7); Welbeck 6 (Fati 77).

Subs: Steele, Igor, Lallana, Barco, Vertman, Peupion.

Booked: Baleba.

Arsenal (4-2-3-1): Raya 8; White 6, Gabriel 7, Saliba 7, Zinchenko 6 (Tomiyasu 72, 6); Rice 7, Jorginho 7; Saka 7 (Martinelli 64, 6), Odegaard 8 (Vieira 89), Havertz 6 (Nketiah 89); Jesus 6 (Trossard 64, 6).

Subs: Ramsdale, Partey, Smith Rowe, Kiwior.

Booked: White.

Referee: John Brooks