Odegaard sets tone, Rice the standard as Arsenal continue to build momentum

Arsenal face fellow title contenders Aston Villa on Tuesday night

Martin Odegaard scored his first goal of the season for Arsenal in the win against Brighton. Pic: Bradley Collyer/PA Wire.

Premier League: Arsenal 2-1 Brighton 

A victory for Mikel Arteta’s hastily restructured injury-hit side may not linger long in the memory for its fluency or drama, but its significance could yet define their season. Not a spectacle, but another narrow, nervy win that kept Arsenal exactly where they want to be as the year draws to a close: top of the Premier League, alive in every competition, and possibly building momentum at precisely the right time.