Brighton & Hove Albion 0-1 Arsenal: 

Arsenal move seven points clear after Bukayo Saka's early goal seals vital victory 

A tense, nervy, and at times turgid clash saw Arsenal emerge 1-0 victors over Brighton & Hove Albion through an eighth minute goal from Bukayo Saka.

Saka scored on his 300th Arsenal appearance, to make it two goals in four games for the England international, who hadn’t found the net in 15 prior to that.

The club's superb 3,000 strong travelling support had further reason to celebrate at the final whistle upon learning that title rivals Manchester City drew 2-2 with Nottingham Forest, as Mikel Arteta's side moved seven points clear, albeit with Pep Guardiaola's side having with a game in hand. 

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Albion stalwart Lewis Dunk was absent for Brighton, replaced by Olivier Boscagli, with Fabian Hurzeler making two further changes from the team that beat Nottingham Forest last time out, as Carlos Baleba was preferred to James Milner with Georginio Rutter coming in for Danny Welbeck - with the former Arsenal striker forced to settle for a place on the bench.

William Saliba missed the match to be replaced by Cristhian Mosquera, while Declan Rice was deemed fit to start after asking to come off in the closing minutes of the 2-1 victory over Chelsea at the weekend. Gabi Martinelli was drafted in for Leandro Trossard, who dropped to the bench alongside a fit Kai Havertz.

The rousing strains of Sussex By The Sea had barely subsided before David Raya gave the ball straight to Carlos Baleba, who lifted it over the keeper - but Gabriel covered yards from an open net to clear.

Hurzeler’s side were to rue the early miss, when Saka scored after eight minutes to make it 1-0 to the Arsenal, after his shot took a nick off Carlos Baleba, before the ball squeezing past Albion keeper Bart Verbruggen, who could, and should have done better.

Stung, the home side attempted to dominate possession, as the match descended into a battle in front of an excitable home crowd who looked for new ways to dig their opponents. The most original being when Brighton fans sang to the north Londoners: “Kier Starmer /He’s one of your own…”

During the relentless attrition it was instructive to note Arsenal’s full-backs, Piero Hincapie and Jurrien Timber, performed well when winning their duels. An important factor in helping disrupt Albion’s pressure, helping the visitors push further forward.

While Brighton’s Georginio Rutter caught the eye for the Seagulls, as the No10 dropped deeper into midfield, attempting to take on Arsenal’s centre-backs, in a bid to open up space for colleagues further forward.

In what the Italians would call ‘una partita brutto’ - an ugly game - which provided plenty of endeavour, if barely any end product, Saka went close 11 minutes after the break, prior to Raya saving Rutter’s shot a minute later by pushing the ball away from danger as the home crowed roared on.

On the hour mark, Arteta took Martinelli and the lamentably ineffective Gyokeres off to be replaced by Trossard and Havertz - with the former Brighton attacker predictably being booed by the home support. Shortly afterwards Riccardo Calafiori switched with Mosquera, who walked gingerly around the pitch to reach the dugouts.

It was soon Hurzeler’s turn to make a change, bringing on former Gunner Welbeck, with Jack Hinshelwood making way.

There were jeers once again for Trossard, this time on 73 minutes, when the ex-Seagul Trossard fired miserably wide, to barracking from the home support.

However, the north London table toppers showed grit and character to see out the game and pick up three vital points